Natural Building

Natural building involves a range of materials and methods that place emphasis on building systems that are harmonious with the environments we live within. Natural buildings are sourced primarily using renewable resources harvested from the local and regional landscapes. Utilizing natures biology and earthen materials is a priority over high tech manufactured and imported products.

Appropriate technologies and ingenuity are important and necessary tools utilized, however the essence of the craft is captured by working directly with hands and personal touch imparts the distinguishing qualities of a natural building. Materials are selected for their natural beauty, resilience and healthy non-toxic qualities. These materials are free from contaminants and the buildings are naturally breathable and maintain healthy indoor air quality.

Observing the relationships within the systems we live, the ecology, geology, solar orientation, local climate and site conditions are primary characteristics considered in functional building design. Passive systems of natural lighting, heating, cooling and ventilating not only offset operational costs but impart healthy living conditions. Building compactly and minimizing destructive ecological footprints are necessary in achieving these goals. When possible, on-site energy acquisition, utilizing and working with natural hydrologic features, grey water and alternative waste management systems should be directed and considered as potential beneficial yields. The integration of natural habitats with our built environments and what might be preserved or used is never overlooked.

Natural building looks to systems and solutions that work with or mimic the ways that natural ecosystems return energy from less usable forms to more usable forms. Within this context establishing regenerative systems to create resilient and equitable communities that integrate the needs of society and the well-being of nature and to cultivate the necessary resources to provide for healthy abundant living and a flourishing habitat.

Rammed Earth Wall

The Growing Trend Toward Natural

The trend toward naturally bio-based and earthen construction is gaining significant momentum, driven by environmental, economic, and social factors. Here's a breakdown of what's happening and why it matters:

Environmental Concerns

Earthen and bio-based materials like clay, lime, straw, hemp, bamboo, and timber are renewable and typically require less energy to produce compared to conventional materials like steel or concrete.
Carbon Sequestration: Bio-based building materials store carbon, offsetting emissions of any necessary processing or transportation.

Health & Indoor Air Quality

These materials are generally non-toxic, breathable, and regulate humidity, improving indoor air quality.
Less off-gassing than synthetic materials.

Local Sourcing & Cultural Revival

Materials like clay, sand, stone, timber, bio fibers are often sourced locally, supporting regional economies and reducing transportation emissions.
There's renewed interest in indigenous and vernacular architecture that’s climate-responsive and context-sensitive.

Aesthetic & Design Flexibility

Natural finishes offer a warm, organic aesthetic.
Custom textures, earthy tones, and sculptural possibilities appeal to modern minimalist and eco-conscious design trends.

internationally

Europe: France and Germany are pushing bio-based building mandates for public construction.
Africa & South America: Indigenous earthen architecture is being re-evaluated as the climate-resilient approach to building.
North America: Growing movement of natural builders with building code slowly catching up. The natural building movement in the United States is experiencing a significant shift — from a fringe practice to a mainstream component of sustainable design, driven by climate urgency, carbon accounting, and a growing awareness of human health and well-being in built environments. Here's a look at where it's headed in the residential and commercial sectors, with a focus on mass timber, industrial hemp, and biophilic/healthy design trend

RESIDENTIAL SECTOR:

Natural Building Rising Key Trends

Hempcrete and Plant-Based Materials
Gaining traction due to carbon negativity, vapor permeability, and healthy indoor air quality.
Increasing availability of precast hempcrete panels and insulated hemp block systems.
Used in custom homes, and now small-scale subdivisions.
Homeowner Health Awareness
Growing concern over indoor air quality, VOCs, and mold has fueled interest in clay plasters, wood, and non-toxic materials.
Movement toward moisture-buffering envelopes and vapor-open assemblies.
Permitting & Code Integration
Slow but growing acceptance of alternative materials (e.g., hempcrete, strawbale, light straw clay, and tiny house appendix in IRC).
Some municipalities (especially in CA, OR, NY, CO) showing support through code pilots and green building incentives.
Prefab Natural Systems
Companies offering prefab panels of straw, hemp, or wood fiber help bridge labor gaps and reduce build time.

COMMERCIAL SECTOR: Mass Timber & Biophilic Workspaces

Mass Timber Surge

CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) is becoming mainstream for low- to mid-rise commercial and even high-rise projects (up to 18 stories).
High strength-to-weight ratio, fast construction
Fire-rated, sequesters carbon
Aesthetic warmth and natural indoor environments
Code Support
2021 and 2024 IBC allows expanded use of mass timber (Type IV-A/B/C buildings).
Big institutional clients (schools, universities, tech companies) now prioritizing embodied carbon in specs.

Biophilic & Wellness-Oriented Design

Workplaces and public buildings are prioritizing:
Natural materials and daylight
Green walls, indoor trees, and natural ventilation

Challenges Still Faced

Regulatory Barriers: Local code enforcement departments may not be familiar with code updates on natural buildings systems that are currently recognized by the International Code Council (ICC)
Perception: Some see natural homes as “primitive” or less durable, despite evidence to the contrary. There are many examples of traditional building methods that have lasted many many centuries.
Skilled Labor: A need for more training in natural building techniques.

Where It's Headed

Hybrid models combining natural materials with modern systems of evaluating performance criteria with material response to specific site conditions .
Prefab natural building panels to speed up construction while maintaining skilled artisanal craftsmanship.
Material innovation, such as mycelium insulation, hemp , hemp resins and composites.
Appropriate technologies to increase productivity and efficiency

Biophilic Design

Biophilic building design is a powerful strategy that goes beyond aesthetics — it's about creating environments that nurture human well-being by reconnecting us with nature. This approach is especially valuable and the growing need for resilient, health-supportive living environments.

Biophilic design integrates natural elements — such as light, vegetation, water, materials, and airflow — into the built environment to enhance human health, mood, and productivity. It draws on our innate biological connection to nature (the "biophilia hypothesis").

Core Elements:

Natural Light
Views of Nature
Natural Materials and Textures
Ventilation and Fresh Air
Greenery (plants, green walls, rooftop gardens)
Water features
Organic shapes and patterns (biomimicry)

Adapting to Changing Climates

Biophilic design is not just decorative — it offers functional resilience against climate stressors:

1. Thermal Comfort & Passive Climate Control

Use of thermal mass, natural ventilation, shading from plants, and orientation reduces reliance on mechanical systems.
Green roofs and walls moderate temperature extremes, reduce heat island effects.

2. Day-lighting and Circadian Support

Designing with seasonal sun paths ensures consistent natural light, helping regulate circadian rhythms.
Dynamic daylighting supports sleep quality, hormone balance, and mood.

3. Water Management

Biophilic systems like rain gardens, permeable paving, and bio-swales support climate-adaptive drainage and grey water reuse.
Indoor water features can also contribute to humidity control in dry climates.

4. Material Choices and Carbon Resilience

Use of natural, local, renewable, and hygroscopic materials (e.g., clay, straw, wood fiber) supports carbon sequestration, thermal regulation, and moisture buffering.

Human Biophysiological Benefits

Circadian Rhythm Regulation

Access to natural light and changing light temperatures throughout the day supports the body’s internal clock, improving sleep and alertness.

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Views of greenery, natural textures, and sounds (like trickling water) have measurable impacts on cortisol levels and heart rate variability.

Improved Air Quality

Plants contribute to natural air purification and humidity regulation.
Combined with natural ventilation, they reduce exposure to VOCs and stale air.

Enhanced Cognitive Function

Studies show increased focus, memory retention, and creativity in nature-integrated environments (e.g., schools, offices, homes).

Examples of Biophilic Features in Practice

Feature Function Climate Adaptation

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Light wells and atriums Day lighting mood regulation Reduce lighting energy use

Operable windows, Cross ventilation passive cooling Airflow Reduce AC demand

Rammed earth, clay plaster Thermal mass, moisture buffering Naturally regulates temp & humidity

Indoor trees and vertical gardens Air quality, stress reduction Natural humidity control

Courtyards and green roofs Social + thermal benefits Cool micro-climates, storm water retention

Passive solar building design

Passive Solar

Passive solar design is not a modern invention—it has deep roots in traditional vernacular architecture across many cultures. Before the advent of mechanical heating and cooling, builders intuitively adapted to local climates using passive solar principles. Here's how:

1. Orientation Toward the Sun

Many traditional buildings were oriented to maximize solar gain in the winter and minimize it in the summer.

Greece and Rome: Ancient Greeks and Romans oriented homes to face south to capture winter sun. The Roman architect Vitruvius wrote about solar orientation in De Architectura.
China: Feng shui principles often aligned homes to benefit from southern exposure, capturing warmth during cold months.

2. Thermal Mass for Heat Storage

Materials like stone, adobe, and earth with high thermal mass absorbed heat during the day and released it at night.

Middle East and North Africa: Thick earthen or stone walls helped regulate indoor temperatures in hot, dry climates.
Southwestern U.S. (Pueblo architecture): Adobe homes used thermal mass to moderate large diurnal temperature swings.

3. Strategic Window Placement

Windows are positioned and sized to balance light, heat gain, and ventilation.

Mediterranean: Small, high windows on the sunny side admitted light and warmth; thick walls andshutters controlled heat.
Japanese Minka Houses: Deep eaves shaded windows in summer, while sliding doors allowed solar access in winter.

4. Use of Eaves, Overhangs, and Shading

Structures incorporate elements to block high summer sun while allowing low-angle winter sun.

Alpine Europe: Chalets had extended eaves to shed snow and shade windows.
Middle Eastern Mashrabiya: Lattice screens controlled light and heat while allowing ventilation.

5. Earth Integration

Some traditional dwellings were partially earth-sheltered to moderate temperature extremes.

China’s Yaodong caves: Dug into hillsides, these homes used earth as insulation and benefited from stable subterranean temperatures.
Berber architecture in Matmata, Tunisia: Troglodyte dwellings were carved into the earth for thermal stability.

6. Natural Ventilation and Cooling

Buildings were designed to facilitate airflow, often in coordination with solar heat gain strategies.

Indian Havelis: Central courtyards enhanced airflow and daylighting.
Islamic architecture: Wind catchers (badgirs) directed breezes into buildings for cooling.

In Summary

Traditional vernacular architecture is full of passive solar principles—orientation, thermal mass, strategic openings, shading, and earth integration—all tuned to local climate and culture. These time-tested methods offer valuable lessons for sustainable design today.

"Passive House" is a building standard focused on "super energy efficiency". It was developed in Germany in the 1990s and basically means creating a home (or any building) with the goal of creating a sealed compartment with the idea of reducing active heating or cooling systems. Extreme insulation, air-tightness, high-performance triple pane windows, and active ventilation systems. The goal is to arrive at "Net Zero" energy consumption. Why this toxic sealed synthetic compartment may not be the answer and contributing further to environmental degradation and disharmony? This criticism points to a few things....

The misconception:

"The High Performance energy Efficient Passive House"

Moisture Trap Risk:

If moisture from ambient humidity, cooking, bathing, or respiration isn’t properly exhausted, it can accumulate inside.
Dependence on HRV/ERV systems: If these fail or are undersized/poorly maintained, indoor air can become stale or humid.
Materials used (like foams or membranes) are often non-breathable — vapor can't escape through the walls.

Side-by-Side:

High performance Passive House vs. Natural building systems

Feature High Performance Naturally Built

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Airtightness Extremely tight (≤0.6 ACH50) Tight, vapor-open

Ventilation HRV/ERV mechanical system Passive + stack effect + windows

Moisture Permeability Airtight & vapor-closed Breathable (e.g., lime, hempcrete, clay)

Moisture Handling Relies on mechanical systems Handled by wall diffusion + ventilation

Risk If Power fails HRV shutdown = moisture buildup Still breathable; Not mechanical dependent

Health & VOCs Toxic off-gasing materials Non toxic materials, healthy ionization

Naturally Built Homes: Breathability and Healthy

Pros:

Use of vapor-open materials (e.g., hempcrete, clay, lime, wood) allows walls to buffer humidity and release moisture through wall
No plastic membranes: water vapor can diffuse outward and dry naturally.
Passive ventilation (via operable windows, stack effect) encourages airflow without machines.
Creates healthy indoor air and naturally regulates RH (relative humidity).

1. Reduced Energy Costs

Passive solar homes use the sun’s energy for heating, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
Less need for artificial lighting due to increased natural daylight.
Lower utility bills over time.

2. Increased Comfort

More stable indoor temperatures with fewer drafts and cold spots.
Better air quality and reduced humidity variations.

3. Environmental Benefits

Decreased greenhouse gas emissions due to lower energy consumption.
Reduced demand on non-renewable energy sources.

4. Low Maintenance

Fewer mechanical systems mean less upkeep and fewer breakdowns.
Durable materials like thermal mass (e.g., concrete, stone, rammed earth, lime, clay) often used in construction.

5. Long-Term Savings

The savings on heating, cooling, and lighting add up over time.
Increase home value due to energy-efficient features and high quality material use.

6. Improved Natural Lighting

Thoughtful window placement and design increase interior daylight, which can improve mood and productivity.

7. Resilience and Independence

Homes remain more habitable during power outages or energy shortages.
Better suited for integration with renewable systems like solar panels.

A Healthy Ionic Charge

Negative ions (anions) are atoms or molecules that have gained one or more electrons, giving them a net negative electrical charge. These are abundant in nature—especially near waterfalls, oceans, forests, and after thunderstorms. They're also naturally emitted by certain earth-based building materials, such as clay, lime, salt, and some types of stone.

Effects of Negative Ions on the Body and Healing

Scientific studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that exposure to negative ions can have beneficial physiological and psychological effects:

1. Mood and Mental Health

Increased serotonin: Negative ions may help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Reduced stress: Negative ions have been associated with reduced cortisol levels and improved stress response.

2. Respiratory Health

Air purification: Negative ions bind with airborne particles (like dust, mold spores, and allergens), causing them to fall out of the air, making it cleaner to breathe.
Relief for asthma and allergies: Cleaner air can ease respiratory issues and support the immune system.

3. Improved Sleep and Energy

Some studies suggest better sleep quality, increased alertness, and higher energy levels in environments rich in negative ions.

4. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties

Limited studies suggest reduced oxidative stress, which is linked to many chronic conditions and inflammation-related diseases.

Effects on the Environment

1. Air Quality

As negative ions bind with pollutants and particles, they can help naturally cleanse indoor air, reducing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and allergens.

2. Mold and Bacteria Control

Environments rich in negative ions tend to have lower microbial loads, which can inhibit mold and bacteria growth—a major advantage in natural buildings using breathable, hygroscopic materials.

Use in Natural Building Materials Like Clay

Clay and other natural materials can generate and maintain negative ions, especially when:

Unsealed (breathable) – allows for interaction with humidity and the air.
Naturally dried, not kiln-fired.
Used with mineral additives like diatomaceous earth, bentonite, or salt (e.g., Himalayan salt plaster).

Examples of Use

Clay plasters on walls naturally emit negative ions, especially when hydrated slightly by ambient humidity.
Earthen floors (especially sealed with natural oils) can have a grounding, ionizing effect.
Salt walls or inserts in buildings (like Himalayan salt bricks) are known to emit negative ions and are used in "salt rooms" for halotherapy.

Synergy in Natural Building

In a natural home using:

Clay and lime plasters
Hempcrete or earth-based walls
Natural humidity control
Low electromagnetic fields (EMF)

…the presence of negative ions is often higher and more stable than in synthetic, sealed environments. This contributes to a biophilic, health-supporting atmosphere, aiding healing, rest, and mental clarity.

If you're designing or building a space with natural materials, incorporating clay and other negative-ion-generating elements is a scientifically grounded way to promote wellness and environmental health.

Step into Balance