Bioconstruction refers to a building process utilizing materials and techniques with low environmental impact, alongside adapting architecture to local conditions and managing waste during the building's lifecycle. Consequently, building according to these principles does not necessarily mean using so-called sustainable materials—which often must be transported over long distances or undergo prefabrication before use—but rather utilizing local materials, techniques, and labor, drawing on vernacular strategies that address these very factors.
.jpg?1577129635 "Catenarius / Ramiro Meyer. Image © Federico Cairoli")
To provide information on bioconstruction and promote it as a way to foster community self-reliance, Brazil's Ministry of the Environment has published a free online guide. To expand the repository of knowledge on the subject and encourage its practice, we present below some of the most common techniques using earth, wood, straw, and bamboo. However, bioconstruction methods extend far beyond these examples and must be carefully evaluated according to the specific context of each project.
