Explore a bold reimagining of housing where affordability, resilience, and ecological design are no longer optional—they’re urgent.

Introducing a new possibility for integrating natural building in more residential settings beyond the “Hobbit House out in the hills.

People tend to think that affordability and sustainability are at odds with each other. Even new market-rate homes fall far short on sustainability metrics. Yet for Oregon architect turned developer Dylan Lamer, he is willing to show the way.

The world is beginning to go through an electric revolution, and real estate is at the epicenter. Sean Armstrong, principal at Redwood Energy, happens to be one of the revolutionaries of this movement and has designed over 10,000 residences in more than 200 developments that are 100% all electric, Zero Net Energy with many of those being low-income affordable housing.

When the Living Building Challenge was launched in the early 2000’s many people thought that it was impossible. And in many places illegal. Two decades later developers, architects, contractors, and visionaries are pushing the envelope and designing entire communities based upon the aspirational and rigorous Living Building guidelines.

In a world with millions of rental properties, very few landlords are thinking beyond the single bottom line. The mainstream dogma of the industry teaches new investors to just focus on the numbers, yet ignores the potential impact that an investor can make by infusing sustainability into their properties and portfolios.

The Solar Village Company develops residential homes for sale and rent in sustainable communities that produces their own energy, food and water. They also build semi-custom Net Zero modular homes for clients wanting off-grid housing options.

The construction industry does not have a sterling reputation when it comes to sustainability. In fact, studies how that the construction sector contributes to 23% of air pollution, 50% of climate change, 40% of drink water pollution, and 50% of landfill waste. One organization, fortunately, is seeking to change that.

Through their work at Rise, Matt and his team are finding that the more we invest in a healthy, efficient, and durable homes, the more benefits we get out of it—from a financial perspective (lower operating costs, higher resale value) as well as a from a comfort and health perspective. For him, it comes down to health, wealth, and helping the planet.

Oliver Ogden has set out to tell stories. His medium was through film and photography. That is until he found that stories about sustainability, resilience, and stewardship were being told in different ways. He became enamored with natural building and is now founder of Placecraft Design & Build.