Regenerative architecture does not just reduce harm—it restores, revives, and renews. In this course, students will master the design and implementation of resilient structural systems using local, recycled, and climate-adaptive materials. From the signature tire wall of the Earthship to cutting-edge pumice-crete, adobe, and 3D-printed concrete, this curriculum blends ancient techniques with 21st-century applications. You’ll learn how Pangea Biotecture integrates structure with function—how walls are thermal batteries, how roofs harvest water, and how form follows earth-based logic. We also examine the ecological and cultural importance of timber harvesting practices and explore how structure can embody place.
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Course Curriculum
- Overview
- What Is Natural Building?
- Embodied Energy and Material Selection
- Thermal Mass vs. Insulation: The Core Tension
- Natural Building in the Regulatory Context
- The Role of Recycled and Salvaged Materials
- Overview
- Why Tires?
- Material Properties of Tire Walls
- Tire Sizing and Procurement
- Building Layout
- Pounding Tires: Step-by-Step
- Tire Building Code
- Retaining Walls
- The Role of Infill Materials
- Can Walls
- Bottle Walls
- Harvesting Cans and Bottles
- Recycled Wood: Doors, Windows, and Structural Elements
- Overview
- The Earthen Building Family
- Soil Testing for Natural Building
- Adobe
- Cob
- Rammed Earth
- Overview
- Straw Bale Construction
- Hempcrete
- Overview
- The Role of Plaster in Natural Buildings
- Clay (Earthen) Plaster
- Lime Plaster
- Gypsum Plaster
- Color and Texture in Natural Plasters
- The Case for Earthen Floors
- Earthen Floor Mix
- Floor System Assembly
- Oiling and Sealing
- Performance and Maintenance
- Matching Structure to Material
- Concrete Bond Beam & Wood Plate
- Timber Post-and-Beam Systems
- Ferrocement and Concrete Vaulted Roofs
- Living Roofs
- Vapor Management in Natural Wall Assemblies
- Overview
- Overview
- Structural Mixes
- Natural Plaster Mixes
- Overview
- Overview
- Climate Data
- Topographic Analysis
- Hydrological Analysis
- Soil Analysis
- Vegetation and Ecological Survey
- Solar Access Survey
- Documenting the Site: Tools and Methods
- Overview
- The Earth’s Motion and the Seasons
- Solar Altitude and Azimuth
- Latitude and Sun Angle
- Overhang Design
- True South vs. Magnetic South
- Sun Path Diagrams
- Orienting the Building on Site
- Overview
- The Water Cycle on Disturbed Land
- Principles: Slow, Spread, Sink
- Swales: Contour Channels for Water Harvesting
- Berms and Mounds
- Pond Design and Construction
- Terracing for Slope Management
- Keyline Design
- Erosion Control During Construction
- Overview
- Zone Design
- Sector Analysis
- Building Placement
- Road and Path Design
- Vegetation Design
- Fire Safety in Site Design
- Overview
- Zoning and Land Use Regulations
- Building Codes: Overview
- Water Rights and Rainwater Harvesting
- Codes for Alternative Construction Materials
- Working with Building Officials
- Overview
- The Drawing Set: Components
- Standards for Drawing Preparation
- Digital Drawing Tools
- Overview
- Step 1: Pre-Application Research
- Step 2: Pre-Application Meeting
- Step 3: Prepare and Submit the Permit Application
- Step 4: Plan Review
- Step 5: Permit Issuance
- Step 6: Inspections
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Overview
- Site Preparation
- Site Organization and Material Flow
- Tools for Natural Building
- Working with Volunteers
- Scheduling and Sequencing
- Quality Control and Documentation
- Overview
- Overview
- Overview