How we build
Whole systems
Building sensibly
Techniques

Natural Building refers to a number of durable, time-tested and easy to learn construction methods using local clays, sand, straw, stone, bamboo and other abundant and recycled materials. Natural Building is a powerful tool for social change, as it sits at the nexus of a number of pressing issues facing today’s world, including affordable housing, sustainable land stewardship and appropriate use of natural resources, localization and beautification of our built environment, cultural survival and community revival. Coupled with permaculture, whole-systems design and renewable energy, Natural Building provides accessible long-term solutions that will last for generations.

Building solutions naturally
Natural Building offers long-lasting solutions to many of today’s ecological and social ills. Referring to a number of durable time-tested construction methods, Natural Building uses local clays, sand, straw, stone, bamboo and other abundant and recycled materials. Because Natural Building is easy to learn, it also empowers people to reclaim their dignity and basic human right to healthy, affordable, beautiful and ecologically-sound shelter. Coupled with permaculture, whole-systems design and renewable energy, Natural Building has the propensity to provide accessible long-term solutions that will last for generations.

Whole systems
We work with permaculture principles and appropriate design, incorporating indigenous materials such as clay, sand, straw, bamboo, stone, wood, rice husk, urbanite, bottles, and whatever else is re-usable or local to the particular areas in which we are building. Often, our buildings incorporate hybrid (various) wall systems in order to create a solid passive solar structure.

Building sensibly
Embodied energy
Design
Small footprint

Techniques
The techniques we use include a combination of any of the following: adobe; wattle and daub; cob; strawclay/slipstraw; straw bale; timber-frame; earthen plasters, paints, floors, and relief work; tile, thatch, and living roofs; drystack stone, urbanite, and earth bag foundations; decorative and structural bamboo; and other innovations. For the most part, we use no or very little cement.

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