From Soil to Society: Celebrating the Essential Connections Between All Living Things
 
PROGRAM DETAILS
 
  Small Building, Naturally: DESIGN AND PLANNING
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Instructor(s):

 Category: Ecology Dates: 7/24/2009-7/26/2009 Price: $285
John Pece
Kim Thompson
 
Brief Description:
Small Building, Naturally is a hands-on four part weekend workshop series in Strawbale and Timber Frame construction. WORKSHOP#1: DESIGN AND PLANNING
Work Scholarship:
We offer a number of work scholarship positions for each of our sessions. Click here for more information.
 
Description:
Have you ever considered building your own simple cabin or dream home? Not sure where to begin, or how to integrate sustainable design or even what it really means? Ever wondered how to work with natural materials, methods, and appropriate technology? If your interests are theoretical or practical, academic or hands-on, this workshop series is for you.


Workshop #1: Design and Planning, July 24, 25, 26
Workshop #2: Structure: Timber Frame, August 14, 15, 16
Workshop #3: Enclosure: Straw Bale Infill Walls, August 28, 29, 30
Workshop #4: Finishing: Earth Plasters, October 9, 10, 11

Over the course of four weekends a small, sustainable residence will be constructed by workshop participants together with our experienced facilitators. Integrated into the landscape and featuring a small kitchen, washroom, sleeping, living, indoor and outdoor spaces, this building will feature a combination of timeless natural materials and methods, with contemporary technical solutions where appropriate.

All workshops combine hands-on experiences with presentations, slides and discussions. Students are encouraged to enroll in the full course series for a comprehensive experience (and tuition discount!), however registration for some individual weekends is available. All weekends begin Friday evening with presentations and discussions and continue until Sunday afternoon.

Workshop 1: Design and Planning: July 24, 25, 26
Onsite examples, lecture, slide, discussions combine with a group design project will allow participants to explore the necessary considerations that precede the first shovel in the ground. Participants should bring any drawings/ideas they have for their own projects.


The class will discuss siting, building layout, solar orientation, case studies, materials, heating, grey and black water and rain water collection systems permits, budgets, and the implications of choosing sustainability in these areas. Site and building plans/sections/elevations, and models will be used to investigate design possibilities and conceptualize projects. The class will explore the Watershed Farm site investigating some of the available natural and local building materials that Nova Scotia offers.
 
Series Discount:

This course is part of a 4 part series. Please click here to view the other courses in the series. Enrolling in all 4 courses will result in a discount of 25% on the final course you enroll in.
   
Instructor Bio(s):  
John Pece    
As traveling Design/Builder, John Pece studied and worked on different environments and construction systems on projects across the US and Canada, Costa Rica and El Salvador covering modern to traditional and experimental materials and construction techniques. His work with sustainable architecture and (re)building community, culture and environment led to roles with a grass roots First Nation group and Dr. Patch Adams' Global Outreach. Teaching architectural design and building at the university level and through venues including the Institute for Social Ecology, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and Upward Bound, John has designed and led courses on Sustainable Design, Building and Land Use for adults, college, and primary and secondary school students. John has lectured extensively and been a visiting critic at architecture schools in Vermont, New Jersey and India.
Kim Thompson    
Kim Thompson has been pioneering construction of plastered straw bales and other natural building systems since 1993. Her work in recent years has become increasingly directed towards improving existing building stock by employing natural building techniques, with an eye to health, environment, aesthetics and affordability. She teaches at the School of Architecture, Dalhousie University, and has a varied design/build practice working with community groups, businesses and home-owners.rn rnKim has written and produced resource materials on natural building for books, videos, curriculums and journals. Most recently she authoured an extensive report for Canada Mortgage and Housing looking at best practices for straw bale construciton in Atlantic Canada.rnrn