The Natural Building Collective Blog
Rammed-earth tyre walls: Your questions answered
Questions emerged after we published a certified fire resistance test for a rammed‑earth tyre wall assembly. This post answers them with evidence and practical experience, covering fire safety, off‑gassing, leaching, and thermal performance.
Fire resistance test: Rammed-earth tyre wall achieves 120-minute certified rating
The Natural Building Collective has achieved a world-first certified 120-minute fire resistance rating for a plastered rammed-earth tyre wall to European EN standards, opening a formal compliance pathway for tyre construction globally.
Student build story | Off-grid eco stay built with regenerative materials
Experience Vineyard Cottage at Goodluck Homestead, an off-grid eco retreat built with regenerative techniques and farm-sourced materials, offering a unique connection to nature.
Projects | Nature meets technology: Empowering rural students through sustainable design
Imagine a classroom where thick earthen walls shield students from the harsh Zambian weather, and colourful glass bottle bricks create a vibrant learning environment. Discover how Project Luangwa’s innovative eco-friendly classrooms blend natural materials with modern technology, transforming the educational experience for rural children and providing a model for sustainable development.
Student build story | Reconnecting to our earthly habitat
James Loudon spends a lot of his time underwater filming big animal encounters in far flung places to help the rest of us understand and become familiar with this big but somewhat unfathomable part of our planet. It was essential that James’s home helped him to reconnect with his earthly habitat but also to reflect his reverence for the natural world.
Portfolio | Compressed Earth Brick house (CEB) reimagines tiny RDP house footprint
At 42m2 this house in Scarborough uses natural building materials to showcase the potential of earth building on the scale of a standard RDP house.
Student build story | Living buildings, Living food
James Kuiper harnesses the living, breathing climate that natural buildings produce to create the healthy supportive environments that the delicately-resilient microbial cultures need to thrive.
Projects | How Heideveld’s sustainable ECD centre will transform lives
The new sustainable early childhood development centre in Heideveld is set to make a significant impact on the community. By utilising eco-friendly materials and innovative building techniques, this project aims to create a nurturing environment for local children while setting new standards in sustainability. Explore how this initiative will benefit the community and transform early education.