Natural Materials Episodes

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, ener...

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Feb. 14, 2022

Natural Homes - Materials, Myths and Empowerment - Sigi Koko - BS071

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...

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Feb. 1, 2022

Affordable cob homes built by AI drones - Daniel Weddle & Zach Dwiel …

Well, there's a title I didn't expect to write when I started this podcast! Today I'm talking to Danny and Zach from Terran Robotics about their work training AI drones to build cob homes. Now this might sound a little …

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Jan. 18, 2022

How to add Insulation to your home - Part 1- Ben Kerslake - BS067

With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for your home and the pros and cons of some diffe...

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Jan. 18, 2022

How to add Insulation to your home - Part 2 - Ben Kerslake - BS068

Part 2! (Check out episode 67 for Part 1) With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for you...

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Jan. 6, 2022

Building with Hemp, a Circular, Bioregional Construction Economy - Ge…

We discuss the report created by Material Cultures and ARUP which examines the potential positive impacts of a bioregional construction economy, from improvements in biodiversity to an increase in construction jobs and securi...

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Dec. 7, 2021

What are the environmental impacts of building with Straw? - John But…

John Butler is back for another episode, this time focussing on 'natural' materials and their whole life carbon. Topics include: What natural means, is it a useful descriptor? The results from a new UK Straw Bale Environmenta...

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Nov. 30, 2021

Why should we be building Passivhaus? - John Butler - BS063

In this episode John explains the principles and requirements of Passivhaus construction. He dispels some common myths and goes into some of the nuances of how its achieved. Does living in a passivhaus mean living in a bubble...

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Nov. 16, 2021

Changing Construction Materials and Cultures in the Waste Age - Georg…

The construction industry needs a shake up. Not just in the materials that are used but in the cultures within the industry. We talk about George and Summer's take on how we should be constructing and discuss their design for...

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Oct. 19, 2021

Circular Economy in the Built Environment - Duncan Baker-Brown - BS061

Welcome back to Building Sustainability, this episode I'm joined by Architect , Academic , Author & Environmental Activist - Duncan Baker Brown. We are talking circular economy in the built environment, issues of sustainable ...

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Sept. 2, 2021

Vernacular Crafts in Earth Pt2 - Alex Gibbons - BS058

Part two of the conversation with earth builder Alex Gibbons. Applications for the SPAB fellowship close on the 14th of September - https://www.spab.org.uk/learning/fellowship Sarah Pugh Just giving link - https://www.justgiv...

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Sept. 2, 2021

Vernacular Crafts in Earth Pt1 - Alex Gibbons - BS057

Part one of the conversation with earth builder Alex Gibbons in which we discuss his route into mud building, old buildings, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Clay Dabbins, and his clay barn Priors Lynn. Ap...

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Aug. 18, 2021

Historical Turf Construction - Daniel Postma - BS056

Daniel Postma is natural builder who has come to it from an interesting background - Archeology. Daniel is a specialist in traditional turf construction and learnt by doing as an experimental archaeologist. Archaeo Build spe...

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Aug. 2, 2021

Building with Renewable Materials - Craig White - BS054

This is the first of two episodes with Craig White of White Design, Modcell & Agile Homes. This episode focuses on Craig's design principles with some side nerding about windows and a small amount of architect poking! Episode...

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July 22, 2021

A Straw Bale Catch Up - Phil Christopher - BS053

Phil Christopher is treasurer for SBUK as well as running Huff and Puff construction, specialising in straw bale construction. We have a little catch up and Phil tells me about the projects he's been working on over the last ...

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