The Need for Natural Materials

I just recently learned that we are building the equivalent of a New York City every MONTH globally. This is a staggering thought. Sometimes I feel like we are at that point in the song where the tempo and tone get faster and louder until it comes to a climax and stops (or ‘drops’ for electronic music lovers). Apart of me does hope that it does indeed stop. Just for a moment, so we can all collect our thoughts on how we are building.

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The demand for this insane amount of building is obviously there, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it so fast. So the question is, are we really populating in that proportion? Overpopulation isn’t necessarily a groundbreaking idea, however I think it does need to be looked at closer if we are concerned with our climate and the future of the planet. It’s a multiplication equation, and its fractal nature is ever expanding… fast.

Im not trying to advocate for a one child policy or any kind of bureaucratic red tape scenario, however something must change. Humans desire for both freedom and community can create a lot of expansion which is a beautiful thing. However, its not about more, its about better. Its about slowing down and doing it right the first time so we don’t have to go cleaning up our messes later, or in this case, leave it for the next generation.

From the initial conception of a building to the embodied carbon emitted in materials to build it, to the emitted carbon to climate control the building, and finally to its last release of carbon when its burned or buried… thats a lot of carbon!! Its actually 40% of the global carbon emissions. So, if we are going to build it lets make sure its going to stand the test of time.

I love all natural building materials, and I recommend building with a diversity of materials. However, by far, my favorite building material is earthen masonry. No not concrete or fired brick, but clay and stone. The earth always gives us what we need and sometimes the answers are so simple it can be hard to remember! It withstands winds, fires, floods and yet returns to the earth with minimal trace.

We all come from the earth, and to her we shall return.