Aquinta de Lage: Natural Building Workshops for All
TL;DR: Learn natural building skills for timber frame structures including roundhouses at hands-on workshops in Portugal.
- Gain practical natural building skills.
- Build with cob, adobe, and slip-straw.
- Learn timber framing techniques.
- Source natural materials on-site.
- Empower yourself for off-grid construction.
Why it matters: Acquiring natural building skills enables the construction of durable, sustainable, and energy-efficient structures, reducing environmental impact and promoting self-sufficiency.
Do this next: Research local natural building workshops or communities in your area to start learning hands-on.
Recommended for: Anyone seeking practical, hands-on experience in natural building techniques for sustainable living and off-grid construction projects.
The Women's Natural Building Collective offers multiple hands-on workshops at Aquinta de Lage in Southern Portugal's Alentejo hills, focusing on natural building techniques for timber frame structures including roundhouses. A 9-day workshop from June 6th-14th immerses participants in theory and practice amid cork forests, building a timber frame roundhouse with cob, adobe, and slip-straw. Shorter options include a 5-day workshop May 6th-10th, 4-day July 9-12, and 6-day August 28th-September 2nd, all working on timber frame houses. Techniques covered: timber framing for structural bases, cob mixing and application for monolithic curved walls, adobe brick production and stacking for mass heaters or walls, slip-straw infills for insulation. Participants get hands muddy with on-site material sourcing (clay, sand, straw, timber), testing mixtures, erecting frames, infilling walls, and applying plasters. Emphasis on community living, inspiration, and empowerment for personal projects. A women-only 9-day carpentry and natural building workshop in Alentejo adds specialized training. These workshops provide specific steps for durable, breathable structures in regenerative farms, equipping practitioners with concrete skills for off-grid builds like roundhouses and timber frames.