[NoraSpinnor]

Many ancient monuments still stand today, and this begs the question: would ours do the same?

The modern world is known for its speed and ability to mass-produce, but does it produce effectively? Houses routinely fill with mold, foundation cracks, and roofs cave in; the modern homeowner is required to pay for insurance on a mortgaged home, because these are all reasonable expectations.

By contrast, the old castles, bathhouses, and temples that still breathe today were assembled around one stubborn principle: water always wins, so work with it. Designs included stone on capillary-breaking plinths, generous eaves, lime mortars and plasters that wick moisture and then let it escape, timber that can dry from both sides, and joints sized for movement. Roman pozzolanic concrete literally heals micro-cracks when seawater intrudes; medieval walls shed and re-absorb vapor seasonally without delaminating; earthen floors survive because they’re repairable and work with the Earth. All of these features suggest far more ingenuity than is found in flashy, modern homes.

Modern buildings stack moisture-hungry materials (gypsum board, OSB, MDF) behind vapor-tight skins (poly sheeting, acrylic paints, synthetic stuccos). Any leak, cooking steam, or winter diffusion gets trapped, feeds mold, and rots what we’ve hidden. Then we “solve” it with more sealants and biocides… until the next failure. Vinyl siding hides wet walls. Spray foam hard-glues assemblies together so you can’t diagnose or repair without demolition. Fast to build, costly to own.

Most people don’t question the modern method, but there may come a day when we have to. Returning to older methods won’t come at a loss. In returning to local sources, we may find that Earth provides every resource we need without the need for drilling, mining, or extractive supply chains.

Most durable vernacular buildings came from what lay underfoot or grew nearby: timber and bamboo that can be replanted; stone and fired brick set on capillary breaks; earth and lime that breathe; and slate, tile, thatch, and wooden shingles that can be replaced for free.

Did you know ancient buildings were this carefully planned? How do you feel about modern methods by comparison?

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