NATURAL BUILDING

Nature built us to thrive by living in harmony with her. The arts and sciences of natural building are humanity’s endeavour to learn from nature’s example, to create human habitats that reflect nature’s brilliantly functional, supremely beautiful and inherently sustainable design.

‘Natural building’ is not just a technique or a building material; it is the harmonious union of materials and methods with sensitive observation and philosophical reflection. It means not only using natural materials (such as earth, stone, bamboo, etc.) in construction, but also learning from nature so that we can build the way that nature herself builds, such that the entire life cycle of a building — from idea to material sourcing to construction to its inevitable decomposition — is in harmony with nature.

Why all the current excitement about natural building? Several decades of experimentation with modern materials and techniques — and witnessing their drawbacks and environmental impacts — has shown that there are many respects in which natural building materials and methods are demonstrably superior to conventional materials and methods for most common use cases.

› Read more about the importance of traditional natural building

A few key benefits of natural building:

• Less disruptive to the earth and its ecosystems and wildlife

• Healthier to live in (thanks to breathability, reduced chemical exposure, etc.)

• Lower embodied energy (less nonrenewable energy used in construction)

• Sourcing building materials onsite or nearby reduces carbon cost as well as transportation expenses

• Often superior thermal properties (which in turn requires less energy for cooling/heating)

• Beautiful features and finishes can be achieved without use of toxic or environmentally harmful materials.

• Sustainable throughout life cycle (natural buildings, when they reach their end, return to the earth as compost)

• Experiential, hands-on approach

Learn it by doing it, working alongside experienced artisans who want to help you learn and can guide you in your development of skill and understanding.

• Holistic orientation

Our natural building programmes examine the whole person engaging with whole solutions, shining as much light on the builder as we do on the building.

• Supportive environment

We are here to support your growth as a sensitive and skillful natural builder, and as an effective agent of positive action in our world.

• Immersion in nature

The best way to learn about nature is to live with it intimately. Our residential programmes provide the perfect opportunity for the kind of deep, long-term immersion in nature that gives birth to profound understanding.

• Examples and case studies

Our Himalayan eco-campus is a showcase for many possible solutions for natural building, and you’ll be living in them, using them daily, gaining experience and insight one can’t find in books.

› More about Dharmalaya Institute’s approach to learning