|
|
||
|
|
||
 FEATURES | ||
|
Natural Building:
Workshops
& Events
Natural
Builders:
NBN
Fine Print
|
Q: What's the difference between a "Gathering" and a "Colloquium"? A: A Natural Building Gathering is intended to welcome all interested in Natural Building to learn from presenters, through lecture and hand's-on experience. Lots of building usually happens and the curious to the passionate come together to get dirty, build community and learn. These events are usually organized regionally, bioregionally, or locally. Natural Building Colloquium etymology: Latin colloquium, from colloqui to converse, from com- + loqui to speak. The originators of the Natural Building Colloquium chose the name because this ancient definition matched the intention of the original gathering. That is, Natural Builders coming together to talk, to share, and to meet. This event has very few building projects and is generally organized by private invitation to people working in or integrally supporting the movement. Colloquium 2008 will be held in Santa Barbara, California in October. Natural Building Colloquium History In 1994, the Cob Cottage Company organized the first Alternative Building Colloquium, inviting Natural Builders and teachers from around the country to spend a week together in Oregon. The idea was for these leaders to meet each other, to share the building techniques they knew best, and to begin to join their various philosophies and experiences into a more cohesive system of knowledge. During that gathering, and the annual Natural Building Colloquia that have followed at sites around North America, hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds attended workshops on wall building systems ranging from adobe to wattle and daub/ roofing techniques including sod and thatch; and foundation systems including the rubble trench, dry stone, and rammed earthbags. Through
lectures, slides, and demonstrations, innovators presented their work
with structural testing and building codes; composting toilets and
graywater systems; designing with natural forces; co-housing; creating
sacred space; and a hundred other topics. The energy and
enthusiasm of the group were expressed physically in the construction of
ornate timber frames, experimental straw bale vaults, and multi-colored
clay murals. Ideas and techniques collided and merged, coalescing into
hybrid structures including a straw bale/cob dome and a straw
bale/cob/light-clay/wattle and daub cottage on a stone and earthbag
foundation. From the
seed of these colloquia, a new movement has been born. The many
disparate efforts to relearn ways of building with local materials and
adapt them to modern needs have been brought together into a single
conceptual basket with an easily understood name: 'Natural Building.' From
The Art of Natural Building, Introduction by Michael G. Smith.
Used with Permission. May 23-June 1,
2008 --- Village Building Convergence (VBC8) The Village Building Convergence 2008 (VBC8) is a 10-day event from Friday, May 23rd Saturday, June 1, 2008 in which neighborhoods activate to build shared public places that they have envisioned, designed, funded, and will maintain for themselves. VBC8 will include hands-on education in permaculture design and construction, ecological building, and public art! All projects are built through collaboration, community conversations and commitment of a neighborhood to strengthen itself. Projects are founded on developing strong local relationships, social capital and equity, placemaking, ecological design, supporting our local economy, and developing our city and bioregion as a network of interconnected Village Centers. Everyone is invited to attend evening events at a central location, to participate in workshops or listen to visionaries speak about various aspects of sustainable culture. http://www.cityrepair.org/wiki.php/projects/vbc8 June 20-29, 2008 --- Ashevillage Building Convergence (ABC) Inspired by City Repair's 'Village Building Convergence' in Portland, Oregon, planning is underway for the Ashevillage Building Convergence '08 - a 10-day hands-on citywide event in Asheville, North Carolina. Through a participatory process, the simultaneous installation of beautiful on-the-ground community projects will be created. The projects will model whole-systems sustainability, and will incorporate natural (earth and straw), as well as recycled and salvaged materials. For more information contact www.kleiwerks.org/abc/index.php. July 27-August 2, 2008 --- Natural Building
and Living Colloquium- East Join us for our 5th Natural Building Colloquium! A hands-on event with an emphasis on natural building and sustainable living in the northeastern climate. Meet and be inspired by some of the movement's foremost natural builders, designers, and sustainable living educators. http://www.peaceweavers.com/bws/
JAugust 31-September 6, 2008 --- 2nd
European Natural Building Colloquium
Bouzov Podoli, Czech Republic Were aiming at gathering 25 top craftspeople from all of Europe, masters of techniques such as cob, straw-bales, willow, earth bags, natural plasters, round wood lumber, etc...to learn from each other and make new friends. More info: www.PermaLot.org October 19-26, 2008 --- International
Natural Building Colloquium Invited Natural Builders from around the world will gather and share, to support the visioning of the Natural Building Movement. Please contact Jack at NBN if you are interested in attending, supporting or assisting with this event. jack [at] nbnetwork.org. To make your payment for INBC 2008 after receiving your invitation or registering please click on our PayPal Link.
|
|
| Top | Support NBN | Contact Us | | ||
|
photos of contemporary natural buildings courtesy of Catherine Wanek |
||
|
Website
questions? web@naturalbuildingnetwork.org Copyright©2005-8
Natural Building Network All Rights Reserved
worldwide | ||
