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Natural Building Techniques

 
There are many ways to build house and quite a few of them involve mud.  
 
Here's a brief breakdown of a few of my favourites that I found in Thailand, England, central Argentina, Patagonia,  Canada, Ireland, the US and Mexico.  In all these countries and climates, I have experienced first hand how a robust building constructed using local materials and tried and tested tradional building methods (combined with contempory appropriate technologies) can provide a comfortable and welcoming home.  These buildings have required minimal environmental impact during construction and require minimal input of resources throughout their life times.  
 
What's more, anyone can do it and everyone should try!
 
Cob

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Cob is a traditional earthen material used all over the world.  It is particularly prevelant in South West England where over 40 000 cob housese from up to 500 years ago are still in use as homes today.  It is a monolithic wall technique built up from clay-rich soil (the binder), sand and fine gravel (aggregates) and straw (fibre).  This strong, resilient material dries hard to support the roof and surround door and winodw openings.  Extra weather protection from wind-blown rain comes from lime or earthen plasters.  Cob has been revived as a contempory building technique over the last 50 years due to its excellent thermal mass, sculptural qualities and simple construction method.  It suits first time self-builders, artists, groups of friends and even kids!

 

Adobe and thermic blocks

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Adobe buildings are made from unfired earthen bricks mortared together with an earth and sand mix.  Adobes can be dense and structural or light, straw-rich and insulative (often called 'thermic blocks').  They are widely used by many traditional cultures worldwide and are now gaining popularity again in drier climates such as southern USA.

 

Light clay infill/ slip-straw/ quincha and wattle & daub

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Although no one can agree on the name, many people agree that the combination of a timber structure and clay slip-covered-straw infil is a great  construction system!  It was widely used in latin America where slip- straw is lightly dropped into a rough subframe of bamboo or branches.  In contempory  Canadian and American buildings, a more formal subframe of timber lathe or board formwork is used and the material is compressed into compact walls.  It is popular due to its excellent insulative properties and neat, straight finish (after plastering) which can simply be a natural alternative to convential wall systems.

 

Natural plasters, lime plasters, paints and floors

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Earthen plasters and floors have been used all over the world since man started building.  They can be exceptionally beautiful and hardwearing enough for daily use.  Plasters including lime (calcium carbonate) have been used extensively in wetter climates to provide a harder, water resistant, insect resistant and naturally antiseptic finish on external and internal faces.  Once applied and set, the plaster returns to its original state as limestone creating a lovely breathable surface.  

Pigments, oils and polishing can be used to accentuate and improve natural finishes. 

Straw bale & Bale-cob 

 

Straw bale construction is a relative new-commer in to the natural building scene as baler machines were only invented in 1850.​​  Over the last 30 years, the material has risen in popularity due to the speed of construction and superior insulative properties.  The bales are compressed in place to provide structural and fire resistant integrity, or simply used as an infil in a post and beam structure.  Suitable design including breathable plasters and finishes are essential for weather and insect protection.

'Bale-cob' combines the insulation of straw with the thermal mass and sculpture possibilities of cob on the internal face.  Its a practical and straightforward solution for colder climates.

 

Timber and bamboo

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Timber can be used in its naturally strongest round-pole state, as dimensional lumber, offcuts, branches and recycled pieces.  Its amazing what nature and your local community can provide for you if you look!  Keep an eye out for structural posts and beams, unusual ridge beams, curvy lintels, work surfaces, furniture and cladding.

 

Bamboo can be used as a strong, structural material or sculptural feature.

Natural Landscaping

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Landscaping using non- invasive materials and planting including reused materials and existing features can be very beautiful.  The aim is to work with, not against the natural habitats and systems.  The principles of Permaculture can be a  useful aid when planning a design.

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