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:
70
Feb. 14, 2022
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, energy-efficient buildings, on the forefront of sustainable design. Every project functions in synchronicity with its environment, relating to seasonal cycles of sun, wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources. Her clients enjoy an
42
Feb. 15, 2021
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 discuss why the modern conventional approach of 'tanking' a building is usually fixing a symptom, rather than dealing with the problem. ASBP Awards - Register for your free ticket here: https://asbp.org.uk/events/asbp-awards-2021-final Triodos Free £60 - https://join.triodos.co.uk/
44
March 15, 2021
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 offender for climate change, to every building being a carbon store, so actively reversing climate change. Links Chris Magwood website - https://www.chrismagwood.ca/ Endeavour Centre website - https://endeavourcentre.org/ Canada's Greenest Home - https://endeavourcentre.org/proje
7
Aug. 13, 2019
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 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
35
Dec. 7, 2020
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 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
18
May 21, 2020
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 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
Recent Episodes
133
April 21, 2025
Saving Swifts: A Brick for the Birds - Hannah Bourne-Taylor - BS133
Swifts are among the most remarkable birds on Earth — they sleep on the wing, migrate thousands of miles, and return each year to nest in the same tiny holes in our buildings. But as we insulate, repoint, and renovate, those nesting sites are vanishing — and so are the birds. This week, Jeffrey speaks with Hannah Bourne-Taylor — author, activist, and the powerhouse behind the campaign to mandate “swift bricks” in all new UK homes. From raising wild birds in Ghana to walking naked through West
132
March 9, 2025
Circular, Modular, Hemp Construction - Chloe Donovan - BS132
In this episode of the Building Sustainability Podcast, we are joined by Chloe Donovan, founder of Natural Building Systems. She discuss the exciting potential of hemp and other bio-based materials in construction, how modular systems can reduce waste and speed up building, and the complexities of bringing sustainable solutions to market. Topics covered: Chloe’s journey from the voluntary sector to sustainable construction The origins of Natural Building Systems and its mission Why
131
Dec. 13, 2024
From Constraints to Creativity: The Art of Sustainable Renovations - Sigi Koko - BS131
In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Sigi Koko, founder of Down to Earth Design, to explore the world of natural renovations. Sigi shares her journey of blending sustainability and health into home retrofits, highlighting the transformative power of materials like clay and hemp in creating spaces that feel alive, healthy, and grounded. We dive into: The challenges and creativity sparked by constraints in renovation projects. Why natural materials like clay plaster and he
130
Dec. 13, 2024
Retrofit Naturally with Sigi Koko - BS130
In this episode of the Building Sustainability Podcast, Sigi Koko of Down to Earth Design shares her deeply personal journey of transforming a historic farmhouse into a fully natural, sustainable home. From retrofitting with hempcrete to creating stunning clay archways, Sigi discusses the challenges, surprises, and joys of renovating a home with natural materials. We explore: The differences between renovation and retrofit—and why Sigi sees her project as the ultimate retrofit. Creativ
129
Nov. 7, 2024
Earth, Time and Transformation - Becky Little - BS192
In this episode, we sit down with Becky Little, an artist, builder, and earth enthusiast, who shares her journey from traditional building to her deeply rooted, place-based art. Becky discusses her Orkney project, EarthBound Orkney, which draws on the land’s Neolithic history, combining locally sourced earth materials to create tactile art pieces that celebrate and reflect the landscape. Becky explains the influence of geology and place on her work, touching on the ancient methods and mate
128
Oct. 23, 2024
Crafting with Cob: Stories of Clay, Community, and Creativity - Kate Edwards - BS128
In this episode, we dive into the ancient and evolving craft of earth building with Kate Edwards, a seasoned sculptor and passionate teacher. Join us as Kate shares her journey from art therapy to building with cob, a natural and age-old construction material. Discover how she turns humble mud into beautiful, sustainable homes, all while inspiring a global community to embrace this timeless technique. From working on historic restorations to teaching hands-on workshops, Kate’s stories blend the
127
Oct. 9, 2024
Building community at Lammas Ecovillage - Tao Wimbush - BS127
Join me in conversation with one of the founding members of Lammas Eco Village - Tao Wimbush. Tao Paul Wimbush is the co-founder of the Lammas Ecovillage in West Wales. He has a wealth of experience in alternative communities across West Wales – including the anarchic Tipi Valley, and the farm community Brithdir Mawr. He has lived in tipis, yurts and roundhouses, and travelled by horse-drawn wagon. With a background in architecture and carpentry and a passion for social structures, his experi
126
Sept. 26, 2024
That Roundhouse - Tony Wrench - BS126
Tony and Faith wanted to live a simple low-impact life, so built a little roundhouse on some land in Wales. Little did they know that the lengthy resulting battle to stay in their home would be part of the beginning of the flagship One Planet Policy. We talk about building the roundhouse, filled with tips and learnings before discussing the legal battles with an incredibly inspiring tale. Many thanks to Tony and Faith - Have a listen and let me know what you think! Tony’s book - https://tinyur
125
Sept. 11, 2024
Llamacroft, a bio-based Passivhaus Pt2 - Janna Laan Lomas - BS125
The second part of my conversation with Janna. In this episode we get into the nitty gritty of airtightness, and how we've come to appreciate its need, while not being 100% happy about the materials needed to achieve it. We talk about the importance of fresh air in your building, how C02 will make us unhealthy and sluggish, plus the best way to get the fresh air without losing all your heat. Grain Architecture - https://www.grainarchitecture.co.uk/ Architype - https://www.architype.co.uk/ Llama
124
Sept. 11, 2024
Llamacroft, a bio-based Passivhaus Pt1 - Janna Laan Lomas - BS124
In this episode of the Building Sustainability podcast, I am excited to welcome back architect Janna Laan Lomas, who shares her journey of building a sustainable home in Herefordshire alongside her partner, Seb, and her parents. We discuss the unique multi-generational aspect of their project, the thoughtful design considerations that have shaped their vision, and the innovative construction methods they are using, such as screw pile foundations and timber frames filled with cellulose insulation
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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