I first experienced the joy of earth-building at 18 while spending six months living in a traditionally crafted mud house in a rural Malawian village. This is where I found my love for living in community and living in harmony with nature. Upon returning to Aotearoa, I completed a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Victoria University of Wellington with electives in Biology Conservation, Design for Sustainability and Spanish during a six-month exchange in Mexico.
Since graduating, I have trained under seven different teachers including internationally- acclaimed earth-builders such as Athena Steen and Verena Maeder. I have contributed to over 10 natural-construction projects ranging from simple clay-painting existing walls to the completion of a co-designed and constructed 28m2 strawbale roundhouse. I have co-hosted or facilitated teaching six educational workshops from one-day to two-month earth-building immersive gatherings.
Beyond the undeniable environmental and health benefits, there is also a deeper cultural shift that I believe natural building contributes to. It invites us to engage with deeper understandings of our belonging in the natural world, responsible stewardship of the land, decolonisation of the construction industry, and reconnection to our community.
I have recently moved to the UK to study a Masters for Sustainable Architecture at the Centre for Alternative Technology so am based between Bristol, England and Machynllth, Cymru/ Wales.