The Natural Building Collective Blog
The story of the Delft ECD Training Centre
The Training Centre is a passive solar, earth sheltered building out of tyres, cob, compressed earth bricks, ecobricks and glass bottles at the Delft Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre. The goal of the Training centre is to provide a space in which ECD practitioners and caregivers are trained to fulfil the developmental needs of the child.
Student-build story: living the simple life living alongside wildlife
Laurie first shared her student-build story and the challenges of building with mud on the edge of Hwange National park, Zimbabwe with us in 2014. Their cob home is complete and the gardens are thriving as they live a simple life alongside wildlife.
Straw bale walls prove resilient in the face of fires
The iconic straw bale house of Simon and Jasmine in the UK burned down in a freak fire after an electrical fault ignited some stored reclaimed plastic stuff they intended to use under the earth floors downstairs as insulation.
Thanks for an awesome 2017!
Q&A with Anita Venter | Shack replacement initiative in Bloemfontein
In honour of women’s day we asked Anita Venter a few questions about her grassroots development initiative using sustainable building methods in Bloemfontein. We have great admiration for the shack replacement initiative and what she has done to empower her change agents to become more self-sufficient and build community in her local context.
Guest post: Hybrid alternative and natural building blocks at the Delft ECD (Early Childhood Development Centre)
Q&A with Paul Marais, award-winning architect specializing in rammed earth
Otto cottage treads very lightly on a pristine site and it restores our ancient connection to nature in its reconciliation with the site, from which the house is made. It recycles its energy and water and waste, creating a space for regenerative conscious living.
