Yes, most of it. Bamboo is a versatile material and has many building applications. However it is not a silver bullet, and care needs to be taken to protect bamboo from water, particularly at the base of a structure. As such, we recommend using bamboo for frame structures, roofing, screening and cladding. Check out our construction guide for ideas and techniques.

Also in colder areas where thermal mass is critical, wall construction should ideally be from a high density material which can store and radiate heat for long periods of time. 

Only if you plant an invasive running species. If you want bamboo, make sure you are planting a clumping species, which has a rhizomic (root) structure which does not spread indiscriminately. Please call us if you need advice on species and propagation. Or, check out our growing guide for extra tips.

Sadly, with immense difficulty. This is because underground rhizomes (roots) can travel up to 30m from the previous growth cluster, making it very difficult to see the extent of the spread, and also to remove the plant. Check out our growing guide for extra tips!

Absolutely yes. Earth building is one of the oldest building traditions of human-kind. Earth buildings perform exceptionally well thermally, and can last 100s of years if built correctly. There are numerous techniques for building with earth, the most popular being: Rammed earth, Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), earth-bag building and wattle and daub. Each technique has its pros and cons. Interestingly, it is possible to build sound, long lasting structures like arches, vaults and domes, from CSEB. Similarly, sand-bag construction is suited for domed structures. 

Earth building is a resource and labour intensive material to work with, the costs of labour generally being worth more than the raw material itself. The process of building with earth demands an in-depth analysis of the soil type to be used, which will help determine which earth-building technique is best suited. Also, quarrying the material needs to be considered within the greater context, and integrated into water management systems, or landscaping. We do not advocate the indiscriminate mining of soil as this results in unnecessary environmental degradation.

Pictured below is Albini Mission church in Ntshongweni, KwaZulu Natal. RHSA were the CSEB consultants on this heritage project, which saw the tripling the capacity of an old stone church.

Yes and no. Logistics (driving from A-B), mass production (replication) and automation determine the price of a thing. Skilled labour is also a big cost factor. It is usually best to pick your technology and materials based on what is available locally.

“Alternative” materials can only be cheaper if the material processing is part of a larger co-originated scheme. Growing the material where you plan to use it results in a logistical cost saving. We specialize in setting up bamboo growing and treatment facilities.

Similarly, “mining” a nearby site for earth or stone needs to be done in a responsible manner. We offer a spatial and resource management focused master planning service which maps out project developments (landscaping, building, services) over a period of time. 

Definitely not, unless you are an artisan or builder already, then maybe.

We are based in Durban KwaZulu Natal, and we work mainly in the greater eThekwini and Msundizi areas, as well as the North and South coasts of KZN.