EmBark ™ BLOG

At the pinnacle of 4,500 ft in Southern Appalachia, you will find an “island in the sky” with diverse plant communities, rare species, and a bark lodge from which every journey in this magical land begins.  The stewards of this incredible property are Robert and Betty Balentine.  They have expanded this reserve to 120-acres with … Continued

When Virginia Tech University constructed Lavery Hall, a giant stone‑and‑glass building that houses the campus’s world‑class dining facility, the project managers searched diligently for natural building materials that would help them achieve a LEED Silver green building certification. In Pursuit of Sustainable Wood Wall Paneling  David Chinn, Capital Project Manager at VT, decided on a … Continued

Though architecture inspired by nature is nothing new, modern architects constantly seek new and exciting iterations of biophilic design. Now more than ever, bridging the gap between the great outdoors and indoors includes regenerative, or even living, natural building materials. Striking feats of biophilic architecture connect people to nature through one of the Earth’s most enduring displays of life: … Continued

As the design world reinvents itself decade after decade, architects find inspiration by reaching deep into history to make old elements new again. Eco‑friendly wall finishes are not new; yet, like so many design elements of old, they can be reinvented and resurrected in exciting ways. In 2017, CNN reported “the emergence of a new recycling … Continued

Seamlessly blurring the line between inside and outside spaces has been a longstanding hallmark of luxury architecture. But it’s time to think beyond glass doors and floor‑to‑ceiling windows that invite the sunlight in. Even glass walls create boundaries between the house and nature, separating the two environments. Invoking a sense of nature need not require overwrought design. It … Continued