Natural Building In Playscapes

I have always been a fan of natural building. While participating in a few community built benches and kiosks I fell in love with this easy and fun construction process of cob. One of the mast amazing parts is that young people can help build. With very little skill and training even the youngest kids can help. There is always the added bonus of getting muddy!

 

Cob = A natural building process where water, earth, clay and straw are mixed together to create a building material.

 

Here are a few photos of a project built with Portland based Clay Play. They can come to a school and plan and design with students then return to build with them too. I can’t wait to collaborate with these folks on something!

 

Here are a few more natural building examples that I like. the forms are playful and I love the use of different materials like recycle glass bottles for small window and colored light openings.

 

Meditation house at New Day School : Photo by earthenhand.com

 

Playhouse at Joyful Noise Childcare: Photo by www.bernhardmasterson.com/

 

Play Sculpture at City Kids Childcare: Photo by www.bernhardmasterson.com/

 

Play Houses at Clarendon Child Care Center : Photo by earlyspace.wordpress.com

 

I would love to hear about any other examples of natural building in kids spaces. I think they mesh together so nicely!