Building Sustainability Podcast
The majority of homes currently being built are bad for the earth, the occupants and the builder’s health.
Every fortnight, join Jeffrey Hart as he talks to designers, builders, makers, dreamers and doers. Exploring the wide world of sustainability in the built environment by talking to wonderful people who are doing excellent things.
Whether you want to learn more about natural materials, are navigating your own self build, or just want to know that better alternatives are out there, this is the podcast for you.
New to the podcast? Start here:
How to design the natural home of your dreams - Sigi Koko - BS070
Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams of living in a natural, healthy home. She works exclusively on projects that are natural, ener...
How Buildings can Save the World - Chris Magwood - BS044
Chris Magwood not only has a huge wealth of experience building straw bale homes, but has the building science Masters degree to back up his experience. We discuss how the built environment can go from being the worst offend...
Solving damp problems with lime - Ben Kerslake - BS042
This week I am joined by Ben Kerslake from Carrington Lime . As well as a general geek out about lime, we mostly talk about how to solve damp problems in homes with some simple observation and materials choices. We …
Sand Stories - The sustainability of sand - Kiran Pereira - BS035
Kiran Pereira is the author of the forthcoming book Sand Stories: Surprising truths about the global sand crisis and the quest for sustainable solutions . Kiran was raised in India where she witnessed the impacts of indiscrim...
Mud, the ultimate building material - Becky Little - BS018
This week we have a conversation with mud mason, Becky Little from Rebearth . "Rebearth is a Scottish company founded by mud mason Becky Little. We specialise in building, art and education using raw earth and natural materia...
Prefabricated straw panels & magic mud - Bee Rowan - BS007
Natural builder, Bee Rowan talks to us about Ecococoon straw bale panels. These prefabricated panels are load bearing and highly insulating - the result is being able to build the entirety of your eco home in 2 days! We also …
Recent Episodes
Finding inspiration in Heritage traditions - Peter Kovacs - BS099
May 16, 2023
I'm talking with Peter Kovacs about his product design, tool making and taking inspiration from heritage techniques and materials. Peter's Philosophy - "Our tools allow us to create beautiful objects out of raw materials. Th…
Old House Retrofit - Marianne Suhr - BS098
March 5, 2023
Marianne Suhr is a Chartered Building Surveyor specialising in the repair of older buildings. We talk about the role of a building surveyor, the SPAB and how to go about sympathetically retrofitting an old building. Episode …
Designing and Building & Workwear for Women - Kirsty Cassels Pt2 - BS097
Feb. 3, 2023
This is the second part of my conversation with Kirsty Cassels. In this episode, we hear about Kirsty's experience as a joiner in the TV industry, her work promoting workwear for women, certifying natural products and the Pr…
Designing and Building Pt1 - Kirsty Cassels - BS096
Jan. 27, 2023
The first of 2 episodes with designer and builder Kirsty Cassels. Pt2 will follow next week when I am back in the country. Follow Kirsty's work on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/building_cassels/ https://www.insta…
Make it at Market - Shannon Berry - BS095
Jan. 10, 2023
The second part of my conversation with Shannon Berry was about her experience on BBC's - 'Make it at Market' and her learning difficulties. Episode Links BBC Make it at Market - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001gq6s Sha…
Trading architect culture for craft community - Shannon Berry - BS094
Jan. 10, 2023
Shannon Berry trained as an architect but I met her as a pole lathe bowl turner. You might know her from BBC's Make It at Market. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001gq6s https://www.shannonberrynature.co.uk/ Episode links …
The Biophilic Tiny House - Part 3 of 3 - Jeffrey Hart - BS093
Dec. 23, 2022
The concluding part of the Biophilic Tiny House Christmas conversation. In this episode we discuss how long it took to build, costs, hardest bits, best bits, how to keep up motivation, future plans and advice for future tiny…
The Natural Biophillic Tiny House Part 2 of 3 - Jeffrey Hart - BS092
Dec. 23, 2022
This is part 2 of the natural biophilic tiny house Christmas special episode. Guest interviewer Mike Hill quizzes me on technical details such as air tightness, ventilation, solar power, heating, and water. Episode Links Kin…
The Biophilic Tiny House Part 1 of 3 - Jeffrey Hart - BS091
Dec. 23, 2022
Today we are talking to me, Jeffrey Hart, designer and builder of the biophilic tiny house. This is the Christmas special, and so is a light-hearted chat with some mince pies and mulled wine. We talked for 4 hours, and edite…
Building a modular cabin & Meanderings around craft - Yoav Elkayam - BS090
Dec. 6, 2022
Yoav Elkayam is a craftsperson specialising in turning cups and bowls. He has also built his own cabin in the woods in a unique way that I was excited to delve into. This is a wandering conversation taking in elements of bui…
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About the Host
Jeffrey Hart
Producer / Host
As well as producer and host of Building Sustainability Podcast - I am a builder, focussed on building highly efficient homes from natural materials. I blend the tried and tested methods of heritage vernacular building with modern building and material science to create buildings that are healthy to the builder, occupant and the environment.
He/Him/HIs