Building with Mudbricks Workshop
25 & 26 August 2018
Buildings made of earth, house almost one third of the people on the planet and these buildings are safe, comfortable, healthy and durable. Mudbrick is also beautiful and desirable, so in this age of increasing environmental awareness, this ancient building method is more relevant than ever.
If you ask someone who lives in a mudbrick house about their home, they will tell you how it is warm in winter, cool in summer, quiet and ‘solid’, a feeling you get from the thick mass of the walls. University of Adelaide (Soebarto) research has shown that earth homes on average use half the energy of conventional homes. Plus, mudbricks can be used in areas with the highest BAL rating (Bushfire Attack Level) of FZ (Flame Zone). What’s not to love?!
Building with mudbricks is easy, creative and fun. Many of the key techniques can be learnt quickly and there is no better way to learn than ‘hands on’ with teachers who are knowledgeable and experienced.
This workshop will be a balance of instruction, presentation and practical experience run by Peter Hickson (President, Earth Building Association of Australia). Peter has over 36 years of experience designing and building mudbrick and cob buildings and he will guide you through all the steps involved with building an earthen house. His own mudbrick home is beyond zero carbon full Life Cycle Design.
The workshop will be run at ‘Wingara’, an urban farm near Wollongong, especialising in organic market gardening utilising permaculture principles (Check out ‘Popes Produce’ on Instagram or Facebook). Tours of the property will be included in the workshop and will be conducted by Permaculture teachers and practitioners Ben & Sarah Anderson. Some accommodation is available on site either in cabins or camping, these will need to be booked separately.
In this workshop you will learn:
- How earth is the ultimate Green Building material
- Choosing suitable earth material and testing
- Maximise comfort and minimise energy with Climate Responsive Design
- Load-bearing and post and beam style construction
- Mudbrick construction systems, techniques and details
- Mudbrick wall design and construction
- Set up a worksite for safety and efficiency
- Mix mortar, cut bricks and build a section of wall
- Build in windows and doors
- Build in upper floors and connect roofs to mudbrick walls
- Incorporating electrical and plumbing services
- Finishing walls after laying bricks
The workshop will be ‘hands on’ and involve mud brick and cob construction of a turf roofed, passive solar designed classroom/granny flat on the property.
When: August weekend 25 & 26, 8am – 5pm. Rain, hail or shine (under cover).
Where: Woonona, NSW (8km North of Wollongong)(exact address will be provided to attendees)
Investment: AU$350/person and AU$600 for couples including lunch, 2 tea breaks and workshop notes. Will earn you CPD points if you need those.
Included: Materials, equipment, notes, lunches, tea breaks and fruit.
To register/enquire click this EMAIL US or call 0468 681 631
For accommodation options please contact Ben on 0414 922 002
Book Now Terms and ConditionsWorkshops
Peter has been conducting earth building workshops since 1998 when he started conducting mudbrick workshops with Shoalhaven Adult Education. Peter has also conducted regular mudbrick workshops for Make It Mudbricks since 2004 and cob workshops with Gudhara Holistic Sanctuary since 2008.
Earth Building Solutions held its first workshops in February 2012. They were a seven day Cob Building workshop at Rocklyn for Yoga Vic. and a Mudbrick weekend workshop in Nowra.
Workshops Scheduled for 2018
Building with Mudbricks (Weekend, 25 & 26 August 2018)
More Info Book HereWorkshops Planned
- Introduction to Earth Building and Climate Responsive Design
- Make your own Mudbricks
- Building with Mudbricks
- Earth Wall Finishes
- Cob - Cob Walling
- Wood-fired Earth Pizza / Bread Oven
- Earth Floors
- Super Adobe - earthbags for landscaping
- Super Adobe for Bushfire Shelter
- Maintaing earth homes and restoration of historic earth homes
- Special workshops developed
To inquire or register your interest in any of these workshops, please click here.
Training Programs
Peter has been involved in Training Programs since 1991 when he started on St Vincent De Paul City Farm caretakers cottage as part of a Skills Share program. Since then he has conducted training whilst building St John's School Chapel, a Training Program for long term unemployed men during construction of a Ten Bed Hostel at St Vincent De Paul City Farm, Nowra. Overseas he has completed four programs in the Philipines. Recently he completed seven months general training in Central Australia with aboriginal trainees including 3 months on an earth building project.
Our practical hands on Training Programs are designed to transfer knowledge and skills, build capacity and have been successful with trainees without the literacy and numeracy skills required for accredited mainstream courses.
We have conducted successful combined building and training, self-building programs overseas and in Australian aboriginal communities where English is a second language.
Training Programs can be developed and tailored to a project and a particular place.
Programs may include a number of earth building techniques together with general construction training.
We can work in conjunction with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
Look at Projects and Albums Pages - Training to see some past Training Programs.