What if you wanted to build a home, but didn’t have the financial resources? What if you could build your own house using natural materials? Natural building is the solution! And through “Clay and Straw as a Key,” we’ve brought traditional techniques into line with modern construction standards!
One week in spring 2026 in Asturias, and another in summer 2026 in Slovenia, 25 people from 11 different countries, including from south Mediterranean, lived together with their hands full of mud and straw… and that all thanks to Erasmus+ Youth.
Throughout this purely practical experience, we have worked directly on the ground, combining technical learning with cultural exchange and reflection on the role of rural heritage in the contemporary context. The initiative not only seeks to preserve traditional knowledge but also to adapt it to current sustainability challenges, promoting environmentally friendly and low-impact construction models.
As part of the project we have prepared the booklet with the description of the different techniques. To share our experience with you, we’ve also compiled the techniques as short reels on this playlist, which is available for free on social media and YouTube. Here is a glimpse of it, our first reel, so… get your hands dirty!
“Clay and straw as a key” is a project focused on showing, investigating and practicing local and traditional construction techniques, and their use in contemporary and modern construction, adapted to the needs of different environments. In particular, we focus on the use of wood, clay and straw.
| The project is led by Creando Floresta (@creandofloresta), a small Spanish organization whose main focus is to encourage people to return to rural areas, revitalize rural land, and promote traditional culture. |
