A HOUSE IS A HOME

What makes a house a sustainable home? A house that uses the materials at hand, a house that shrinks away from materials that have a negative impact on the environment and instead reach for designs that conserve energy and reduces waste and choose materials that are locally available.

A sustainable home looks different for every one. There are so many choices these days. 

Here are just a few.

COB BUILDING:

In Europe, cob building dates hundreds of years ago. In our continent, African have been and still build with mud and straw. These structures are described as monolithic, that is, the material, straw and mud, is worked layers after layers to create a massive form. It is not like laying bricks! But the art is in shaping the material to wall that are as thick as three feet or less.

ADOBE - EARTH BRICKS:

Did you know that about a third of the world's population live in a adobe houses. Similar to cob building, adobe structures are energy efficient and the bricks are extremely durable. Adobe is mostly made from a mix of clay and sand.

RAMMED (COMPACT)  EARTH:

is a method of building where a mix of earth is compacted in layers between forms. Each layer tends to be approximately fifteen centimeters thick. With a small amount of cement in the mix, a wide range of soil types can be used in this method.

BAMBOO HOUSES:

As an alternative to timber, bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative. Sturdy, the hollow tube in the bamboo has been proven to make the bamboo a strong material that is also not favoured by termites - a bonus! Bamboo builders, who seem to be artisans as well, look at their bamboo homes as a natural flow from form and function.

With a little imagination one could design the perfect space for a small or large family. We at Ecovillage Project Kenya plan on creating a home for its residents. We want to feel at home while care for the environment we plan to leave for our children!