[Y/N] Studio’s Post

500 years ago, a city of skyscrapers was built in the desert — and it's still standing today. Known as the "Manhattan of the Desert", it's even more densely populated than New York. And it's a model for urban planning. There is no older vertical metropolis in the world than Shibam, Yemen. Its "skyscrapers" were built in the 16th century and endure to this day. When a British explorer came upon it in 1930s, he christened it the "Manhattan of the Desert". 7,000 people live inside 0.3 square miles — on a par with the modern world's most dense metropolises. Shibam dates back 1,700 years as a caravan stop for spice traders: part of an ancient network connecting Europe and Asia via the Middle East. It was destroyed by flooding in 1532, and most of today's city built shortly thereafter. Considerable wealth was amassed here by traders that needed protecting. 23-foot city walls and contiguous outer buildings formed a blockade against potential invaders, with only one entrance gate to the city. Buildings expanded vertically for several reasons: defensive purposes, avoiding flood damage, and keeping entire extended families under one roof. In some cases they're 11 stories tall, or 100 feet in height — but how did they do it? The architecture is entirely "vernacular": built without the help of professional architects and with local materials. It's all made of mud bricks (on stone foundations), reducing in thickness as you go up. The mud is mostly clay, left out to dry in the sun. Clay can bear pretty immense loads: 2.5 to 3x the compressive strength of concrete. Floors are made from wood, and wooden joists add occasional reinforcement. This method has been used for nearly two millennia to build enormous structures. It built the world's first castle: the 3rd century Ghumdan Palace in Sana'a that was allegedly 20 stories high. And it adapts expertly to desert heat. Mud bricks have high heat capacity, slowing the rate of temperature change inside the building. Exteriors are painted in lime plaster that's both reflective and waterproof. Interiors keep consistently cool, ventilated by small windows covered by wooden lattices — limiting direct sunlight reaching in. Once built, they're under a constant state of maintenance: new layers of mud applied periodically to protect them from the elements. The structures are 16th century originals, but they've been replenished continuously for centuries. Shibam is an architectural triumph but it can also teach us a lot about careful urban planning. What keeps the city cool is the buildings being so densely packed, providing each other with shade. It's arranged in a rough grid, with courtyards that store the night's cold air and zig-zagged streets that prevent it from being blown away in the morning. Streets run against the angle of the sun, maximizing shade. It's a place entirely adapted to its surroundings by centuries of local expertise handed down.

In the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the importance of fire-resistant home design has never been more apparent. As architects, we have a crucial role in integrating safety and sustainability into our designs to protect our communities. When considering new constructions or renovations, opt for materials like stucco, metal siding, concrete blocks, and treated wood, all known for their fire-resistant properties. For roofing, a critical area for fire protection, choose materials such as slate, concrete, or metal roofing tiles that can help prevent fire spread. Site design also plays a pivotal role in enhancing fire safety. Ensure that landscaping includes fire-resistant plants and create defensible spaces by maintaining a clear area around your home. This not only provides a buffer but also reduces the potential fuel for fires. Let's commit to building safer, more resilient communities through thoughtful, fire-resistant architecture. Together, we can turn the tide against the destruction wrought by wildfires.

In Bankview, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a new residential project incorporates urban farming into its design. This inner-city project is the first of its kind in Calgary, incorporating private gardens, vegetative roofs, and apiaries into its program. At just over a half acre of outdoor space, the project builds a sense of community within its neighborhood. The gardens allow for the residents an opportunity to connect with nature and get to know their neighbors by gardening alongside each other, and preparing harvest baskets to be sold. Outside of creating a sense of community and socialization space, the rooftop and private gardens, also provide an added layer of insulation to the building, which helps regulate interior temperatures. The project is a small phenomenal case study in how to appropriately and effectively build urban gardens. We’re all in this together #sustainability #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #architecture #architecturaldesign #planning #urbanplanning #urbandesign #sustainablecities #cityplanning #design #construction #greenconstruction #greendesign #farm #farming #rooftopfarm #rooftopfarming #urbanfarm

Planning Application Approved in Hedge End, Southampton: Development of a rear garden plot for a single bungalow. Studio Homer is pleased to announce the approval of one of our more challenging application proposals. Despite a history of refused applications on the site, Studio Homer was instructed to propose a new development in the rear garden of a confined plot. Previous applications were refused for a lack of consideration of the surrounding context, the character of the area, or providing adequate amenity space. In response, we took a design-led approach to propose a dwelling that aligned with the existing character of the street. Our proposal reconfigured the layout of the site to mimic the street pattern of the area with a building form that responded to the adjacent buildings. A light study was provided along with an amenity calculation to demonstrate that the proposal was in line with local policy guidance. A detailed design and access statement was submitted alongside the plans to outline to the local planning authority the considerations taken for the proposed development. The proposed plans were submitted with a design and access statement to outline to the local planning authority the considerations taken for the proposed development. The planning officers’ report outlines that they considered the proposal to fit in with the character and appearance of the locality and moved to approve the scheme. Further details can be seen on Eastleigh Borough Council’s public register at F/23/96493. If you are looking to gain planning permission on your site, contact Studio Homer for a free non-obligatory initial appraisal. #approvedplanningapplication #infilldevelopment #newbuildhome #architecture #planningconsultant #hampshire

Planning Application Approved in Hedge End, Southampton: Development of a rear garden plot for a single bungalow. Studio Homer is pleased to announce the approval of one of our more challenging application proposals. Despite a history of refused applications on the site, Studio Homer was instructed to propose a new development in the rear garden of a confined plot. Previous applications were refused for a lack of consideration of the surrounding context, the character of the area, or providing adequate amenity space. In response, we took a design-led approach to propose a dwelling that aligned with the existing character of the street. Our proposal reconfigured the layout of the site to mimic the street pattern of the area with a building form that responded to the adjacent buildings. A light study was provided along with an amenity calculation to demonstrate that the proposal was in line with local policy guidance. A detailed design and access statement was submitted alongside the plans to outline to the local planning authority the considerations taken for the proposed development. The proposed plans were submitted with a design and access statement to outline to the local planning authority the considerations taken for the proposed development. The planning officers’ report outlines that they considered the proposal to fit in with the character and appearance of the locality and moved to approve the scheme. Further details can be seen on Eastleigh Borough Council’s public register at F/23/96493. If you are looking to gain planning permission on your site, contact Studio Homer for a free non-obligatory initial appraisal. #approvedplanningapplication #infilldevelopment #newbuildhome #architecture #planningconsultant #hampshire

🔥 Miracle in Malibu: Timber Clad House Survives LA’s Worst Wildfire 🇺🇸 A timber-clad house in Pacific Palisades has emerged unscathed from one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Designed using Passive House principles, this home is a testament to the power of thoughtful architectural design in the face of natural disasters. 🔎 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ A Unique Survival: Architect Greg Chasen attributes the survival of this home to a combination of design choices and fortunate circumstances. With features like a solid concrete perimeter and tempered glass windows, the house was able to withstand the surrounding devastation, where over 5,300 homes were destroyed. 2️⃣ Passive House Benefits: Passive house design principles are crucial to the home’s ability to endure extreme heat. By ensuring a thermal break between the internal and external timber frames, the house can resist fire longer than conventional homes, providing critical time for flames to pass before causing damage. 3️⃣ Community Impact: The homeowner expressed shock and sorrow for their neighbours who lost their homes, highlighting the emotional toll of such disasters. This incident underscores the importance of sustainable building practices for individual properties and community resilience as a whole. 🤔 #questionforgroup: How can we promote adopting Passive House standards in wildfire-prone areas? What strategies can be implemented to educate homeowners about the long-term benefits of investing in fire-resistant building designs? 🔗 To learn more about this incredible story and the role of Passive House design in wildfire resilience, click here: https://lnkd.in/gUsf9Sr5 #wildfireresilience #passivehouse #sustainablearchitecture #timberconstruction #communitysafety #buildingforthefuture #ecofriendlydesign #climatechange #resilience #architecture #fireresistantdesign #innovativeconstruction #sustainability #disasterpreparedness #homeownereducation #buildingpractices #communityresilience #environmentaldesign #naturaldisasterresponse #safetystandards

As an architectural service in Shropshire that specialises in self-build this article saddens me. This has taken away business and quality projects from local architectural services. We have plenty of inquiries for self-builds, but unfortunately they don't have the building plot, so we probably only undertake 2-3 self-builds a year. Yet we have clients who have been paying to be on the Self-Build Register for years and removing these self-build plots makes a mockery of the government’s Right to Build scheme . While Shropshire is a large county, self-build plots are very limited. This is due to the struggles with planning and policy and if a site becomes available (even if it's for only 1 plot) it generally gets snapped up by the local house builder / developer who will build generic houses for profit, not for the end user. In the UK less than 6% of houses are self-built where in Europe its approx. 60%. ‘Custom Build’- where you tailor a pre-designed house, you chose your own kitchen, the council are likely to receive CIL (Community Infrastructure Level) payment on these plots compared to the CIL exempt self-builders. The developers state since planning permission was first granted for the London Road development there have been "substantial social and economic shifts across the UK", yet we are still receiving self-build inquiries, minus the plot. Cornovii Developments Ltd who is developing this London Road site is Shropshire Council's own housing developer company ( and haven’t employed local architectural services). Self-build should be more economically viable as self-builders are not paying for developers profit, affordable housing contribution or CIL which will be included in the sale cost. But the lack of self-build plots means that self-build only becomes economically viable if you can afford to build a 4-5 bedroom house. For the full article: https://lnkd.in/edwRGt39 Self Build Register - https://lnkd.in/e-gN_6Bv Right to Build - https://lnkd.in/eJgyMt74  and https://lnkd.in/efmEFMuW Build Better, Building Beautiful - https://lnkd.in/eSRSeFSX. #selfbuild #shropshire #homebuildingandrenovating #housebuilding #architecturalservices

Analysis Of ONX Precast Florida Homes #ONX #ONXHOMES #FloridaHomes Full Details: https://lnkd.in/e9unpsEW ONX is revolutionizing home construction in the Florida market on several fronts. Off site construction replaces site built and concrete replaces wood. This is as welcome as flowers in spring for Florida, prone to severe weather. With precast components ONX is bringing mass production methods to construction. By serving as component manufacturer and developer ONX is bringing mass production to the component fabrication and the construction site. What ONX has accomplished in the last few years is impressive. It is in the area of the look and feel of the house, its grounds, and its relationship to its neighbors where I believe a change in format would be most beneficial. For its initial foray into the housing market it is understandable ONX pursued a straightforward approach adopting the American Foursquare house sited on lots by way of conventional lot boundary setbacks. The issue is a house almost completely devoid of outdoor privacy. Long setbacks from the street mean much of the lot is not used, to which can be added the two side setbacks. The backyard is just a fraction of the total lot, an area devoid of privacy with sight-lines coming from many neighboring homes. Just as site built is giving way to offsite, and just as stick framing is giving way to precast, the foursquare and conventional setback siting must give way to the duplex mirrored front to back and packaged with private courtyards in between. The complete solution for the new mode of building AND living is the long, narrow, precast duplex running width-wise from street to street - with the barren setback space in between reclaimed as delightful, private courtyards. Finally by way of a financial thumbnail sketch, ONX is selling its 2,300 sq ft FourSquare style homes for somewhere above $500,000. In my view, by adopting the courtyard duplex configuration with garden, spa, and pool, by increasing the conditioned space to 3,000 sq ft, by replacing the steel roof with a roof terrace, and by adding a street facing deck, the sales price could be doubled at the cost increasing the square footage by only around 25% - plus the cost of the aforementioned extras.

How did a fortunate few homes manage to escape the devastation of the recent LA wildfires? According to architects, the answer may lie in investing in a "passive house." A passive house is built airtight, using strong exterior insulation, triple-pane windows, and construction methods that ensure no heat is transferred across the exterior of the building. No outdoor air seeps in, and no indoor air escapes. Ignacio Rodriguez of IR Architects says, “The primary intent is energy efficiency to prevent heating and cooling loss from the home, but tight sealing also elevates fire resilience." Learn more about design strategies for fire resilience in Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy's piece on Realtor.com: https://lnkd.in/ghixG2Tt #irarchitects #losangeleswildfires #lawildfires #lafires #wildfirereponse #fireresilience #homedesign #housedesign #residentialarchitecture #designstrategies

" You are here just to play with mud. " "You can’t build a house with only mud," they said. Everyone was skeptical—villagers, friends, even family. People in the village, built stone houses with mud mortar with a slate roof before switching to cement houses. They mud-plastered the walls and did the floors with cow dung. But the idea of building a complete house with mud was unfamiliar. They thought it was impossible. " You don't have pure clay here as you have in the plains," said Dadi (granny) who we live with in the village. Like the villagers, so many people have myths about building with mud. And today, we're here to dispel 7 common MYTHS about building with cob. 1️⃣ "Cob buildings will melt in the rain!" With a good roof and solid foundation, cob houses can last for centuries. There are 600-year-old cob cottages in rainy Devon, England! 🌧️ 2️⃣ "You need pure clay to build a mud house." Nope. It’s a mix of clay, sand, and straw that makes cob strong. Clay is only 15-25%. You need sand for compressive strength. Too much clay? You’re asking for cracks! 🧱 3️⃣ "Cob houses aren’t durable." Think again! There are cob structures from 9500 BC that are still standing. 💪 4️⃣ "Cob is dirt cheap!" Cob can be cost-effective, but factors like material availability, labor, and design impact the price. 💰 5️⃣ "Cob attracts pests and mold." Cob walls when once dry, breathe, regulating moisture and keeping mold and pests away. 🌿 6️⃣ "Cob is only for rural areas." Mud building techniques can be applied in urban and suburban settings. Modern amenities? Absolutely! 🏙️ 7️⃣ "Cob requires more maintenance than cement." Both need upkeep, but cob is easier to repair and doesn’t harm the environment. 🌎 _ Cob is intuitive, ecological, and soulful. 🌱 It’s time we rediscover the power beneath our feet! Want to learn more about building with natural materials? Subscribe to our newsletter (link in bio and comments) to get tips, stories, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌 ♻️ Reshare the post with your community. _ #earthen #architecture #sustainable #ecoconscious #biophilic #organic #natural #vernacular #biobased #biomimcry #cob #mud