Building Trust: The Latest Architecture and News

This August, Building Trust will host a Design + Build Workshop in Umbria, Italy, in collaboration with local artisan collective Terraepaglia. Combining innovative building design with natural construction methods, the workshop will focus on the creation of functional spaces through sustainable means and materials. Over the course of 12 days, participants will work closely with Building Trust and Terraepaglia to learn hands-on construction methods including adobe brick making, straw bale and rammed earth construction, natural plastering, and wood flooring. Learn more about the project and how to get involved here. Our previous coverage of Building Trust's workshops can be found here.

This April, non-profit organization Building Trust will host a Live Build Workshop in Laos, in partnership with the local Free the Bears Fund rescue centre. Participants are invited to work with the Laotian local community and Free the Bears staff to construct a design a sustainable merchandise store. It is envisioned that the store will allow Free the Bears to sell merchandise that will in turn fund their ongoing bear conservation projects in Laos and beyond.

Building Trust has launched their sixth international design competition: Cool School. Seeking an innovative school design proposal that can withstand the extreme Mongolian climate, the competition is challenging architects, designers and engineers to envision a solution which has the chance to shape the future of school buildings across cold regions globally. Contestants should consider environmental conditions, materials, space, comfort, accessibility, adaptability and aesthetics. Building Trust will work alongside competition partners, World Vision, local government and the school community in Khovd, Mongolia to build the winning school design. More information about the competition, here.