What is Natural Building?


Natural building is a fairly new term that sums up an approach to building that focusses on using locally (and carefully) harvested materials, simple tools and techniques, natural design strategies and community based lifestyles. It also usually involves recycled materials.

The most common materials and techniques used are cob, adobe, straw, rocks, logs and locally harvested lumber. Most of the time some combination of these materials is used.

For "quality of life" reasons and out of concern for the environment, natural builders tend to design carefully crafted cottages, rather than large, boxy houses. They pay close attention to the orientation of the house, window placement and energy needs.

Although there are some similarities, Natural Building is significantly different from "green building". Green builders by and large use the same construction techniques as conventional builders, but tend to use more responsibly produced industrial products.

Due to its simplicity, affordability and its creative possibilities, natural building has been a wonderful choice for owner-builders.

The natural building movement as a whole has a strong community feeling. Many builders and teachers get together on a regular basis to share information, learn from one-another and network. Annual meetings, often called Colloquia, are held across the country.

Many people in the natural building movement also have connections to the permaculture movement, eco-foresters, organic farmers and the fair trade movement.