Hugh Holder

The current state of the global economy has forced many people to consider other forms of income. One of these is creating a short-term rental space in your home. Short stay or short-term rental areas are not a unique consideration for people living in the tropics. However, I feel that many of our countries are […]

What Is Biophilic Design Biophilic design is an intentional design approach that incorporates nature into a building. The word biophilic relates to humans’ tendency towards the natural environment. Benefits of Biophilic Design Throughout history, humans have always had a close relationship with and love for nature. We long to find shade under trees or hear

Building a house is expensive. Between labour and materials, constructing a house is not cheap. One way to reduce the construction cost of your home is by using cheap building materials. Typical building construction materials and finishes are pricey. Often, the more attractive and durable the material, the more expensive it is. It is understandable

Kitchen gardens have become more popular in recent months. Many people have been turning their patios, backyards or any available outdoor space they have into a kitchen garden. Stay-at-home and lockdown mandates due to COVID-19 have forced people to be at home. As such, many have taken to gardening. Not just gardening, but kitchen gardening.

Flooding is a major concern for consideration in a resilient building design. Depending on your location, different natural disasters can cause flooding in your region and home. Hence, it is important to design our homes, cities and neighbourhoods to be resilient against flooding. Effects Of Flooding One of the most devastating effects of some natural

Sun shading or solar shading design is critical for creating a cooler tropical home. Direct sunlight shining on or in a home increases the temperature in the room. Adding sun or solar shading design strategies decreases heat gain. Hence, creating a home that is cooler and better thermally comfortable.  Today, solar shading devices are not

The tiny houses movement swept across many parts of the world. Over the last couple of decades, tiny houses became the craving for those persons looking to shed the life of abundance and trade it in for one more modest and minimalistic. But is a tiny home suited for you or are tiny houses just

The year 2020 has taught us many lessons about life, work and the way we live in our homes. We all watched as COVID-19 consumed the globe. For many of us, our lives were turned inside out. Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders plagued a large part of the year. Many of us spent more time in

Green roofs have become popular in several parts of the world. The benefits of green roofs on the building and the environment have made them a good idea in many applications. Though the benefits are better seen in urban areas, they are some general benefits to green roofs in any application. What Are Green Roofs?

The impact of natural light such as daylight and sunlight is important in tropical homes. However, the type of natural light can have different impacts on tropical regions. Often, we want to ensure that our home has as much natural light as possible. Natural light is thought to be great for our physical and mental