How can we build more sustainably?
I decided to become a carpenter because the only thing I was clear on wanting to do when I finished school was to build my own home. As I was living in Denmark at the time, it was a great opportunity to get exposure to the strong building traditions of Northern Europe.
My wife and I dreamed of building a straw bale house. The natural materials, high insulation values, soft natural textures and low carbon footprint of this type of construction were very appealing. As it happens, we still haven’t built our straw bale home… it will happen one day!
As a business we haven’t built any straw bales homes either, when they are built commercially they are not particularly cheap, however as a business we are passionate about continually exploring ways to build more sustainably.
For the past 5 years we have been following this Italian company that is doing some very innovative work using 3D printers to construct highly sustainable housing options using earth as the main material.
I am interested in earthen structures as it is considered one of most sustainable building materials.
Much of the Great Wall of China is constructed of rammed earth and still stands to this day.
However, earthen construction, whether mud brick or rammed earth has low insulation value.
What is fascinating about WASP 3D is that they have combined an ancient material using the latest technology to create high insulation values.
Massimo Moretti and I at WASP 3D HQ in Bologna, Italy
In January this year, I visited WASP 3D in Bologna, Italy and had the pleasure of meeting the founder Massimo Moretti and his passionate team of designers and developers.
Massimo encapsulates a rare combination of traits as he is technically gifted, manages a large viable business, all the while begin driven by high ideals to create highly sustainable and affordable housing.
It is that same ideal that has long driven me in my career and various business endeavours.
We are currently doing some groundwork on a project that can bring this technology to Australia.