Tile Work In Patagonia, Arizona

When we cross the border at Nogales, Arizona

 we often stop in the very nice little town of Patagonia.

And what a great town to walk around and check the sites.

More On The Stone And Concrete Tub Made With Forms

This a continuation of the previous post:
Stone And Concrete Tub Made With Forms. 

Stone And Concrete Tub Made With Forms

In the last post I showed some ideas for reusing materials

 from old mobile homes at El Dorado Hot Springs in Arizona.

In the last photo I showed forms made from the walls and floor.

Now let's look at that tub.

Recycling Old Mobile Homes

In the last month or so Low Rent Renaissance Blog 

has done a series on deconstructing a mobile home:

Deconstructing a Mobile Home (Part One),

Deconstructing a Mobile Home (Part Two),

Deconstructing a Mobile Home (Part Three),
Deconstructing a Mobile Home (Part Four), and
Deconsctructing a Mobile Home (Part Five).

Well, recently we were at El Dorado Hot Springs in Arizona

 and they have been deconstructing a number of old mobile homes

 and reusing the materials.

Above is a shed they constructed from lumber from the floor, walls, and roof.

Michael T. Levy-Solar Architect

     This winter I have gotten to know Michael Levy and looking over his website (taoshighspirits.com) I can see that he has had quite a career in the alternative building and appropriate technology fields. As a solar architect, design and build contractor, and green builder he has worked and taught building with steel, adobe, masonry, strawbale, and insulated concrete forms (in this case rastra block). Among other things he has designed and built passive solar buildings and underground, both commercial, residential, and remodeling. Check out his website for much, much more. I look forward to catching up with him next time we are in Taos, New Mexico and learning more.

More On Entry Ways

Periodically I like to do a post on doors, gates, and entry ways.

More On Formed Cement

Readers may notice my fascination 

with formed and decorative cement work,

 particularly in Mexico where it has advanced to an art form.

Old Time Methods Yield Spring Greens All Winter

     I saw this on NPR's website the other day: Old Time Methods Yield Spring Greens All Winter. The web version has photos so that is better to show the hoop houses that are used as well as the techniques on this small farm in Central Virginia. Please check it out.

     And to complement the NPR story here are my blog posts on the same topic. Now is a good time to start planning your garden for next winter:

The Urban Food Producing Winter Garden from 3/7/10,

A Cold Frame from 4/17/10,

Hoop Houses from 11/19/10 and

Winter Garden #2 from 11/30/10.

Details In Alamos, Sonora

I want to show a few photos that I like from Alamos

 that didn't fit in any other posts.

Above the color combinations, carved stone,

 and the formed plaster are striking.

El Pedregal In Alamos, Sonora-Landscaping

This is the fourth and last post on

 El Pedregal Nature Lodge and Retreat Center.

El Pedregal In Alamos, Sonora-The Strawbale

My previous two posts have been on

 El Pedregal Nature Lodge and Retreat Center.

El Pedregal In Alamos, Sonora-Adobe Casitas

In the six weeks we spent in Alamos this winter,

 I could only find one example of adobe being used in contemporary building,

and that was at El Pedregal Nature Lodge and Retreat Center.

The five casitas and lodge were built of adobe 

in the last few years by David and Jennifer MacKay.

Above is one of the casitas.

Brickmaking In Afghanistan

     Saw this 3:16 minute video in the New York Times this morning and it presents a disturbing picture of slavery through indebtedness. But it also shows brickmaking in another part of the world. I particularly was interested in the form they used as well as how they handled the mud.

     There are two messages here for me. Stay out of debt, and build, or remodel, your own house using the material used most often around the world- earth.

     The video is: The Brickmakers of Afghanistan. Or you can see the article: In Afhgan Kilns, a Cycle of Debt and Servitude which includes a link to the video.

El Pedregal In Alamos, Sonora

We had occasion to visit El Pedregal Nature Lodge and Retreat Center 

last week and as soon as we reached the front gate

 I knew that we were someplace special.

Unconventional Homes-A Glow In The Desert

     I just saw this article in the New York Times and thought that if this isn't alternative building, what is. The article is A Glow in the West Texas Desert and is about The Southwest Texas Alternative Energy And Sustainable Living Field Laboratory or the work of John Wells. His blog site is The Field Lab. I think I will add his blog to the blogs that I read on the right side bar. Enjoy.

Skylights In Sonora

My previous post was on Roof Treatments In Alamos, Sonora 

and the one immediately before that was Ceiling Treatments In Alamos, Sonora.

Please scroll down to see them or go to:

Ceiling Treatments In Alamos, Sonora and
Roof Treatments In Alamos, Sonora.

Now let's look at skylights.

Here in Alamos skylights are often used in remodeling

 as the old homes can be quite dark.

But they are not the type of skylights we are used to in the states.

Roof Treatments In Alamos, Sonora

If you go back to the previous post you will see ceilings;
Ceiling Treatments In Alamos, Sonora.

Now let's look at how they do the roof here.

Above is an older roof made of fired bricks.

Ceiling Treatments In Alamos, Sonora

Ever since the post Adobe Fixer Upper In Alamos, Part 2

 way back on January 22nd I have wanted to show

 some ceilings here in Alamos.

Figueroa Family Woodworkers In Alamos, Sonora

We have been on the road recently in Arizona
(the more guns, less wi-fi state)
but I hope to get on a more regular posting schedule and...

...I was happy to meet Nemesisio Figueroa,

 who is part of a woodworking family here in Alamos.

Portals #2

Since the beginning of the year

 we have passed by several enticing portals,

a particular feature in the desert southwest.

Building Mexico, More Update

I want to include a nice detail to the last post: 

Building Mexico Update.

and to the post from last year on this house:

Building Mexico.

In the photo above you can see the curved column 

that will hold up an arch.