Bio-construction – ecological building

Bio-construction – ecological building • bioconstrucción – a meaningful option

“La bioconstrucción no se enseña en universidades ni les interesa a las empresas” – according to Gernot Minke, ecological building is still basically not taught at universities and evidently does not interest companies either. I can only underline this sad observation; all the more important, then, to promote, publicise and champion life-affirming ideas such as “bioconstrucción”, which is pursued very successfully and actively, above all in South America.

“Bioconstrucción”, or ecological building, sounds quite simple at first, and it is. Basically it is about designing meaningful, logical buildings with natural materials found above all in nature and on site. By that, however, I do not mean that trees have to be felled specially for it. On the contrary, nature gives us countless natural materials and building materials such as wood, clay, loam, sand, silicon, lime, slate, earth, grasses and many more. Many of us often think that building a clay house, thatching a roof with reed or straw, making walls of earth and grass or constructing wooden houses are new ideas and creations. Yet dwellings and living spaces used to be created only from materials from nature. Plastic, concrete or metal simply did not exist. For the people of those days this was surely more of a blessing than a curse, as it meant they could avoid contamination.

The academic definition says: “Building biology (bio-construction) studies the holistic relationships between human beings and their built and domestic environment.” By holistic we mean the biological, medical, psychological, sociological, technical and artistic influences. For me, in reality, this means following the rules of nature, which has left “bio-constructions” everywhere – on coasts, as caves, be they termite mounds or birds’ nests, and wherever else. Tested over thousands of years and then eliminated or displaced in a very short time by “technical innovations” with destructive elements and materials, these approaches are well worth returning to.

By holistic we mean taking into account the biological, medical, psychological, sociological, technical and artistic influences.

Markus Meyer

To me, bio-construction is very much an essential part of designing living and working spaces if one follows the basic principles of permaculture modelled on nature. Too many people have turned away from nature in recent years (even centuries), consciously or unconsciously, although they are natural beings and come from nature. Permaculture, and bio-construction as part of it, helps to make the return to nature easier; it brings us closer to the earth and its rhythms. The process is complemented by a shared ethic in the use of natural and landscape areas, in interaction with nature and its other inhabitants, our siblings, and the relationships connected with them. Bio-construction impresses with its careful use of resources and stabilises the basis of our lives, so it would be high time to reject the traditional patterns and steer towards a life-affirming future.

On our journey through South America (together with my wife), I humbly experience it as a great honour to be part, with fantastic creative minds and great colleagues in Argentina, of projects that are created following the rules of nature. Entirely in the spirit of my own philosophy of nature, which I in turn am allowed to present to these very colleagues, scientists, nature lovers and interested people. For in the course of our journey through South America I offer talks, seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics around botany and ecology, be it water and energy, dealing with natural hazards, permaculture and forest ecology or constructed wetlands. Besides several permaculture projects in Paraguay and Argentina, I have meanwhile been able to build several constructed wetlands together with grateful helpers. The last workshop, for example, took place in Bariloche, Patagonia (Argentina). And more projects will follow: I will soon be teaching permaculture in Bolivia and supporting and planning projects in Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Mexico; there are invitations to accompany nature conservation projects in Chile; and I will also write another book about our experiences on our ecological-botanical journey. For my basic intention is not only to lead as many people as possible (preferably everyone) back to nature and to accompany them on the way, but also to connect awakened, curious and life-affirming people with other like-minded people worldwide and to give them a platform.

The astonishing response and the resulting synergies show us that the journey is important and is happening at the right time; here too, more projects will follow, and we are looking forward to it – estamos deseando que llegue. And I invite everyone to accompany us on the way to a future worth living and affirming life. Thank you.

My website (German):

die-ökologen.at (German)