Natural building

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Cob_with_living_roof

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strawbaleconstruction

Cordwoodhouse

Natural building refers to a range of building systems and materials that place major emphasis on sustainability. Ways of achieving sustainability through natural building focus on durability and the use of minimally processed, plentiful, or renewable resources, as well as those that, while recycled or salvaged, produce healthy living environments and maintain indoor air quality.

Principles

Natural building primarily utilizes natural materials such as earth, wood, straw, and stone. The emphasis is on local sourcing and minimizing the ecological footprint of the construction process. Key principles include:

• **Sustainability**: Using materials that are renewable and have low environmental impact.
• **Health**: Ensuring that the building materials do not emit harmful chemicals and contribute to a healthy indoor environment.
• **Durability**: Constructing buildings that are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance.
• **Energy Efficiency**: Designing buildings that use minimal energy for heating, cooling, and lighting.

Materials

Natural building materials are chosen for their environmental benefits and health impacts. Common materials include:

• Adobe: A mixture of earth, water, and organic materials like straw.
• Cob: A natural building material made from subsoil, water, fibrous organic material (typically straw), and sometimes lime.
• Rammed earth: A technique for building walls using natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, lime, or gravel.
• Straw bale construction: Using bales of straw as structural elements, insulation, or both.
• Cordwood construction: Building walls from lengths of debarked tree limbs laid crosswise.
• Earthbag construction: Using bags filled with earth or other materials to create walls.

Techniques

Several techniques are employed in natural building to ensure structural integrity and sustainability:

• **Passive Solar Design**: Orienting buildings to maximize natural light and heat from the sun.
• **Thermal Mass**: Using materials that absorb and store heat to regulate indoor temperatures.
• **Natural Insulation**: Utilizing materials like straw, wool, or cellulose to insulate buildings.
• **Green Roofs**: Installing vegetation on rooftops to provide insulation and reduce stormwater runoff.

Benefits

Natural building offers numerous benefits, including:

• **Environmental Impact**: Reduced carbon footprint and less reliance on non-renewable resources.
• **Health**: Improved indoor air quality and reduced exposure to toxic chemicals.
• **Cost**: Potentially lower construction and maintenance costs due to the use of local and recycled materials.
• **Aesthetics**: Unique and aesthetically pleasing designs that blend with the natural environment.

Challenges

Despite its benefits, natural building faces several challenges:

• **Building Codes**: Navigating local building codes and regulations that may not accommodate unconventional materials and techniques.
• **Skill and Knowledge**: Requiring specialized knowledge and skills that may not be widely available.
• **Climate Suitability**: Ensuring that natural building techniques are suitable for the local climate and environmental conditions.

Related Pages

• Sustainable architecture
• Green building
• Passive house
• Renewable energy
• Environmental design