Natural building and sustainability

artKtecture promotes the use of natural materials, construction methods and environmental sustainability.

Cob is a mixture of clay, sand and straw that can be sculpted into thick walls that are incredibly strong and offer great thermal mass - storing the sun's energy during the day and releasing it at night. Cob is a labour intensive building method but it is easy to learn and the materials can usually be found on or near most building sites. It is a strong and durable material. Well protected cob homes in the UK have been standing for generations showing minimal erosion - around one inch per century. It has been used successfully in the wet climate of the Canadian west coast, but it has little insulation value and must be used cautiously in colder climates. Cob is an increasingly popular building material due in part to its inherent artistic qualities, ease of construction, sustainability and affordability.

Straw bales are a particularly good building material, especially here on the prairies of Western Canada. Straw is considered an agricultural waste product and it is usually burned in the fields or plowed under. The smaller two-string straw bales are the most popular for construction as they are more common and easier to handle than the larger, heavier three-string bales. Straw is chosen for its sustainability, local availability and high insulation values. Straw bale walls are generally covered in a cement-lime stucco with the option of an interior finish coat of clay or gypsum plaster. Homes made of straw are warm, quiet, fire-resistant and, when protected from moisture, durable and long lasting.

Straw that has been lightly coated in a clay slip and packed between studs in a wood framed wall is called light straw-clay. Like a straw bale wall it is finished with stucco or earthen plaster. Light straw-clay provides some thermal and acoustic insulation and is a good option for interior walls, sheds, garages and animal shelters.