Recently, we returned from an extended family vacation in the Dominican Republic. Sun, warm waters, and lots of rest!
One of cooler things we saw was all the thatched roofs in use – even in newer construction. The public spaces of the airport in Punta Cana was entirely made of thatched roofs.
Wikipedia defines thatching as “the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation [such as straw], layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof. It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical and temperate climates.”
Thatching is low-cost, sustainable solution built with local vegetation. Here are a few pictures from the Punta Cana Airport.

Maybe they will inspire the use of old methods as creative, *new*, sustainable solutions for your home!