Natural Materials Episodes

A conversation recorded with Janna Laan Lomas, founding director and designer at Grain Architecture. In this episode we discuss the architecture industry's response to climate change. We also look at Janna's training and how she got into architecture and sustainability. You might also be interested to hear episode 37, also with Janna which focuses more on the nuts and bolts of how to design buildings in a sustainable way. Topics covered in this conversation: Ethics - Turning down work if it's...

It's a Solstice/Christmas/New Year double episode with Grain Architecture's founding director and designer Janna Laan Lomas. In this episode we discuss the nuts and bolts of sustainable design from an architect's perspective. I also speak with Janna in episode 38, where we discuss her background and training, and the response from the architecture world in response to the climate emergency. This episode contains discussions on: Her approach to construction Insulation and Mass geek out Desi...

This week I'm joined by Clare Whitney from Clayworks for Building Sustainability Podcast BS36. Clayworks Clay plasters are unique blends of unfired clays mixed with minerals and pigments to provide healthy, breathable finishes for internal walls and ceilings. Manufactured in Cornwall from abundant raw materials, they are amongst the most sustainable and healthy wall finishes available. They are recyclable, compostable, re-useable, and contain no toxic ingredients or VOCs. As well as being 100...

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 indiscriminate sand mining. Following her Master’s degree at King’s College, London, during which she explored this very topic, Kiran works as a social entrepreneur to find and promote solutions to the global sand crisis. Her work has been featured in the award-winning documentary San...

Part 2 of the 2 part episode in partnership with Earth Building United Kingdom and Ireland (EBUKI.co) We wanted to find out about the training available to those wanting to get into earth building in the UK and Ireland. All to often this information is provided from the trainers perspective and doesnt show the difficulties of getting into this industry. In this episode I talk to Miki Z and Jamie Ingle. This episode with conversations with and ends with my thoughts on what we can do to better t...

Part 1 of a 2 part episode in partnership with Earth Building United Kingdom and Ireland (EBUKI.co) We wanted to find out about the training available to those wanting to get into earth building in the UK and Ireland. All to often this information is provided from the trainers perspective and doesnt show the difficulties of getting into this industry. In this episode I talk to Kit Jones and Anna Castilla Vila. Episode 34 will follow straight on from this episode with conversations with Miki Z ...

I'm very pleased to welcome the podcast - builder, photographer, publisher, editor and blogger... Lloyd Kahn! Lloyd is the editor in chief at Shelter Publications, has now published eight books on building; this series is called The Shelter Library Of Building Books. Included are Home Work, the sequel to Shelter, Tiny Homes, and Lloyd’s favorite, Builders of the Pacific Coast. In the mid-‘60s, Lloyd Kahn quit his job in the insurance business and began working as a carpenter, first building po...

This episode we are speaking with Sarah Partridge of Orchard Barn - http://orchardbarn.org.uk/ Orchard barn is an off grid restoration project that is rebuilding a barn and long house using the traditional tools and techniques that were used to build it the first time round. The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @JNaturalBu...

This episode we talk with Scott McAulay, from the Anthropocene Architecture School. Scott is a part 2 architectural technician who has been making lots of noise to shake up the architectural education model. We discuss Scott's journey to this point and how the anthropocene architecture school has developed and grown into a rebellious voice of common sense - pushing for a change in the education of architects to bring the climate emergency to the forefront of design requirements. Support this Po...

Full show notes coming soon! Emily's Blog - https://plasterwithwa.wordpress.com/ Japanese Earthen Plaster Exchange - https://thejepe.org/ Japanese Plaster Craft - https://www.facebook.com/groups/japaneseplastercraft 'Mizugone' Plastering Video discussed - https://youtu.be/Mti9FiZha6Q The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @...

Today I talk with Emily Reynolds, author of 'Japan's Clay Walls: A Glimpse into their Plaster Craft' - This is part 1 of 2! Today we discuss trowels, bamboo backing, Links Japanese Earthen Plaster Exchange www.righttoroam.org.uk The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the showConnect with me: IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Twitter - @JNaturalBuilder Facebook - Jeffreythenaturalbuilder Li...

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt2-will-stanwix-bs25 In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too. This is the second part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. For this, we took turns to ask each other questions and go off on geeky/sil...

Show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/natural-builder-question-time-pt1-will-stanwix-bs24 In this episode I talk with Will Stanwix - Co-author of 'The Hempcrete book - Designing and building with hemp lime'. Will is not only a hemp-lime builder, but also a trained building surveyor and now an accomplished earth builder too. This is the first part of a 2 hour conversation between Will and myself. We recorded a conversation right at the beginning of lockdown , then decided...

Full show notes available at: http://jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com/bs23-earth-floors-are-the-most-sustainable-floors-sukita-reay-crimmel This week I am talking with earth floor expert Sukita Reay Crimmel. Sukita has laid thousands of square feet of earthen floor, written the book on earth floors... and was an extremely influential teacher to me back at the beginning of my natural building journey! This episode is essentially two earth floor lovers, geeking out pretty hard. We talk through the b...

The second of our 'Barn the Spoon' double bill. In this episode Barn talks about 'New Wood Culture' - A holistic approach to working with wood that connects the growing of trees and managing of woodlands. It encompasess selecting, appreciating and felling of trees, and all the items that can be crafted from them. Barn is a greenwood worker, spoon carver and author Podcast Links Barn the Spoon Spoonfest Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park Barn's Book - Spon - https://tinyurl.com/28wqnmj4 Bodgers Ball F...

Support this podcast - Patreon The first of a Barnaby Carder (Barn the Spoon) double bill. Barn is a spoon carver, co-organises spoonfest and is the author of several books including the excellent Spon. In this episode Barn tells us about how he got into wood-working at a young age and later discovered the joys of working green wood. His journey has been unusual and is told with Barn's classic humour. This episode is sponsored by https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/ Episode links Spoonclub The Gree...

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 materials. We have 25 years of experience in earth building techniques including mudwall (cob), wattle and daub, light clay and hemp, turf building, soft capping, clay plasters, earth sculpture and decoration. By learning from the past and working with nature, we celebrate and de...

In the second of our birthday / lockdown triple bill... I have a conversation with Beth Williams, who is a 'Structural Engineer + Certified PassivHaus Designer. Passionate about diversity in construction, timber engineering and efficient, humble design' BETH WILLIAMS MEng (Hons), CEng MICE Beth graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2011 having studied Structural Engineering and Architecture. Beth has worked in architectural and engineering practices in Sheffield, Gloucestershire and now...

It's Building Sustainability's first birthday & most of the world is on lockdown... So this month sees a triple Building Sustainability podcast release to celebrate / occupy your mind. The first of this month's episodes is: Lucy Pedler - Architect & Director 'The Green Register' Lucy started both The Green Register (TGR) and her architectural practice in 2000 when her children were 3 and 5 - she attributes the creation of these two new companies to sleep deprivation at the time. From a desk i...

This month we talk to Ben Moss from Bristol Wood Recycling Project (BWRP). Ben set up the recycling project in 2004 with the aims of: Recycling timber from the waste stream, Promoting social inclusion, Being self funding Providing affordable timber to the community. This is an excellent project that benefits the community on many levels and gets the maximum use out of precious materials. BWRP is part of nationwide group of wood recycling projects - hopefully this episode will encourage you...

Flo Hamer lives in a tiny house, it measures 4.8m x 2.4m - It contains everything she needs - kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and lounge. It's a normal house, but tiny. For images check out her instagram - https://www.instagram.com/flostinyhouse/ Her house is a tiny house on wheels (THOW) meaning it's built on a trailer and it towable to new locations. Tiny houses have become quite the movement, especially in the US, New Zealand and Australia. Flo designed and built her tiny house and now lives i...

Adrian Leaman from wholewoods.co.uk talks to us about his journey into the world of roundwood timber framing and green woodworking in general. We go off some wonderful tangents and end up with Adrian discussing his natural building gripes! Topics covered include: Adrian's journey from hands on education, to desk job and back again How permaculture has affected Adrian's life Working on Ben Law's renowned woodland home The hidden depths of processing your raw materials Support this podcast: h...

In this month's Building Sustainability podcast we talk with Kiko Denzer. Kiko is perhaps best known as the author of ' Build Your Own Earth Oven' - https://tinyurl.com/2bu6xj7t (A book that made it into our favourite books list). The interview is a meandering discussion featuring such topics as: Spoon carving Natural Building Christopher Alexander Bill Coperthwaite .....And a whole lot more! It was a really joyous time spent with Kiko, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Support thi...

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 talk about Bee's background, and how she ended up involved in straw bale building. Finally Bee talks about her work in Pakistan stabilising earth bricks with locally available lime to make them flood proof. Support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainabil...