“Natural Building” is simply prioritizing the use of regionally sourced natural materials in your construction projects. It is so sensible. It is also radical in the modern era. Prior to the rise of the industrial era, this is how people always built homes. With stone, locally produced timber and brick. Earthen materials and sand for plaster. We find that we can do the same, while providing superior comfort, durability, and beauty.
We take inspiration from traditional building techniques that have proven their worth over generations. From the inherent forms of traditional timber framing, to the beauty and simplicity of lime plaster. The alternative and experimental builders of the past few decades have provided many lessons learned, and “natural building” has evolved. Now there are multiple firms that produce pre-fabricated straw bale SIP panels for improved efficiency and the ability to build at scale.
Modern building science helps us understand how to build natural assemblies that provide outstanding comfort, durability, and interior air quality. All attributes that we highly value.
We strive to build as naturally as possible. In the northeast this typically means using straw bales for insulation, earth and lime plaster for wall finishes, local wood for interior trim and exterior cladding. For those that aren’t interested in straw bale insulation, recycled cellulose and wood fiber insulations are called for. We also install finely crafted clay floors, hempcrete and adobe walls, sculptural cob interior features, and a variety of natural clay and lime based finishes.