How many forms of earth wall construction do you know?

A guest blog by Ciaran Malik

“Earth construction is fun and once you get started a whole new world opens up. I recently started attending EBUKI training events and was amazed at how many new things there were to learn about earth building. For a start I thought rammed earth, cob and compressed earth bricks were the only ways to build with earth and I now know of at least nine (but I think there could be more).”

By Maria Sierra-Sanchez

“We recently held the first meeting for UK academics —and one Canadian! — who are somehow involved in earth building, to foster a collaborative network across disciplines. The event, held at UCL Bartlett, was attended by representatives from 12 universities, stretching from Plymouth to Edinburgh, who shared what and how they teach and examine various subjects like architecture, engineering, and health in higher education.”

We are now welcoming volunteers to offer assistance:

- Before the Clayfest 2024 workshops start
- During the week of workshops and the conference
- After the conference has ended

Find out more!

Our speaker schedule for Conference at Clayfest 2024: Inside Earth on Friday 19th July 2024, is now confirmed! Explore here the inspirational speakers and their biographies. Tickets on sale NOW!

The Elgiva Theatre, Chesham

Our workshop schedule for Clayfest 2024: Inside Earth, our next in-person Clayfest in July 2024, is now confirmed! Explore here the transformational workshop offerings for you to choose from, and the biographies of the accomplished workshop leaders. Tickets on sale NOW!

by Graham Briggs

“Traditionally huts were built using materials that were locally available at the time. In contrast, hutting builds today have embraced modern methods of construction and are often fabricated off site and delivered, rather than built of materials from the land. Our project seeks to challenge this narrative by making a structure using vernacular (local) materials sourced from the site itself to create a low impact, low carbon habitable space.”

“At the end of the building’s life, these materials will melt back into the land and return to the earth: ‘an architecture borrowed from the soil’. This is what makes the approach circular, similar to historic use of land.”

“The architecture of the past does not collapse simply because it is old or built using traditional materials. Equally, modern architecture does not remain standing during an earthquake simply because it is new or built using more modern materials.”

- ISCEAH

Rewilding Youth is a not-for-profit community interest company based on East Hull Community Farm in Hull. It was established in November 2021 by University of Hull lecturer and researcher Dr. Charlotte Dean and Outdoor Youth Worker Les Moss who are both passionate about their mission to create opportunities for young people in Hull to connect with the outdoor spaces around them. They hope these connections will inspire them to engage actively with the environment, whether that be through feeling confident to spend more time outdoors or aspiring to working in associated jobs, such as outdoor youth work, rewilding initiatives, arboriculture, green woodwork and conservation.