Natural Building and Bioconstruction – Sustainable Construction in Brazil

We believe it is important to use natural and locally sourced materials as much as possible in order to create a more sustainable future. Better yet, we try to use materials that, after use, can be returned to Mother Nature without negatively impacting the environment. That’s why we use stone for foundations, wood for structures and windows and doors, and cob (see what it’s made of) for our walls. Other details and finishes are made with various materials ranging from lime to natural resins and pigments to even cow manure! Don’t worry, it doesn’t stink!

To achieve carbon and energy neutrality for your home, we start with the design, positioning your home and windows such as to take advantage of natural light and air currents. The structure itself is also built to be eco-friendly through the use of cob, insulated floors, and green roofs, which all help to reduce energy consumption through temperature and humidity control. Additionally, we can implement technologies such as solar panels, double-paned windows, solar heaters, and floor heating/cooling systems that will help keep you and the planet comfortable.

Despite being one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide, cement is still commonly used to build foundations. With our qualified team, your foundation can be made of natural locally-sourced stones. Stone lasts much longer than conventional cement foundations and, requiring no maintenance, does not crack or deteriorate over time like cement does – just look at all the surviving ruins made of stone from ancient civilizations thousands of years ago! We also use expanded clay to prevent moisture infiltration and to insulate the floor. Of course, if necessary, we can also use cement for a foundation

As a renewable resource, wood is fundamental to the construction of our eco-friendly homes. We specialize in a variety of techniques, styles, and types of wood – from hardwoods to recycled and even reused woods like railroad ties. More than just beauty, reclaimed wood also brings your home a story to tell!

We make our own finishes sustainably, using locally sourced natural materials. With a variety of color options to choose from, these unique finishes are perfect for your cob walls as they don’t cut off any circulation, allowing your walls to continue “breathing” unlike with oil paints or stucco and cement finishes, for example.

One of the greatest but least-talked about aspects of natural building is that there is much more diversity in design. You aren’t limited to just straight walls and ninety-degree angles, even though you can do that, too. You can make all sorts of creative shapes for everything from walls to windows to ceilings. If you want, you can have a domed roof, a circular room, or a window with more than four edges – why not?

A green roof is beautiful and also creates more space for leisure – or even agriculture – on top of your own home. You’ll reduce your energy consumption as well since It acts as an excellent thermal insulator. A green roof also absorbs noises better, purifies the air, lessens the effects of air pollution, absorbs rainwater which can be reused, and supports native flora and fauna, leaving your house more integrated with nature. On top of this, green roofs are actually more durable and require less maintenance than conventional roofs!

Compared to conventional materials such as brick, cement, and drywall, cob is much more comfortable, healthy, and economical as the walls offer excellent temperature regulation through thermal mass (reducing the need for heating and cooling), keep the humidity low since the walls “breathe,” absorb sounds better, and are much stronger – literally bulletproof. Cob, if properly taken care of, can last thousands of years and is also a very malleable material, allowing for more creativity and freedom in your design.