Houses That Can Save the World

“Changing the way our homes are constructed could help alleviate many of the world’s problems,” write curator Smith and journalist Topham in this sophisticated survey of sustainable homes. The duo organize the work into 19 chapters, each of which offers plausible solutions for environmental issues: a chapter titled “Dig” showcases homes in China that are built using ancient rammed-earth techniques and require less energy for heating and cooling. “Float” is a look at aquatic architecture and features the Thames Estuary’s “Flood House,” which “addresses new ways of living with the threat of flooding by embracing the movement of the tides,” and the fascinating “Reuse” chapter shows how waste can be used to build homes—the U.K.’s Brighton Waste House, for instance, was built using discarded objects such as used toothbrushes and DVD cases. The “Print” section, meanwhile, highlights Texas’s “Community First! Village” of 3D-printed, single-story homes that can be customized “with a simple change to a few lines of code.” While the full-color exterior photos are impressive, readers will be disappointed that not all interiors are documented. Even so, those interested in green design will find this an inspirational lay of the land. (Dec.)