This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to the nature and possibilities of clay as a building material.
Clay is one of the oldest building materials in the world, yet understanding how it behaves is the key to using it successfully. Through direct experimentation, participants will develop a strong tactile understanding of clay and its relationship with water, while learning how to assess its composition, strength and durability.
Rather than focusing on a single building technique, this workshop provides an overview of the different ways clay can be used in natural construction. We will explore how the qualities of a material influence the choice of building system, and how to recognise and work with the resources available to us.
The workshop is designed to be both practical and exploratory, combining hands-on material testing with an introduction to the main clay-based building modalities.
What you’ll learn / do
During this workshop, you will:
Get to know clay
Develop a strong tactile understanding of clay—how it feels, behaves and responds when worked by hand.
Understand clay and water
Explore the hydrophilic nature of clay and its relationship with water, including how moisture affects its behaviour and performance.
Assess your local soil
Learn how to identify and assess the proportions of clay, silt and sand in a soil, and understand why these ratios matter for natural building.
Test strength and durability
Explore simple methods for evaluating the strength, cohesion and durability of clay-based materials.
Explore clay building systems
Receive brief introductions to the primary clay-based building modalities, including:
- Superadobe
- Rammed earth
- Compressed earth blocks
- Adobe
- Wattle-and-daub
- Cob
- Light straw-clay
- Clay plaster
- Clay slip
Through these different approaches, we will look at how the same fundamental material can be transformed into very different building systems.
Who this workshop is for
This workshop is suitable for:
- DIY builders
- Natural builders
- Architects and designers
- Artists and makers
- Students
- Anyone interested in natural building and earthen materials
No previous experience with clay or natural building is required.
Curiosity, observation and a willingness to get hands-on with the material are the most important things to bring.
Practical information
Date: Sunday October 11 2026
Time: 10 AM – 5 PM (1h lunch included)
Duration: 6 hours of teaching
Location: Rua Santa Luzia 8, 3505-348 Forniçô (VISEU)
Language: English (Portuguese translation possible)
Price: 65 EUR
What’s included
- All necessary materials and tools
- Guidance and supervision throughout the workshop
- Hands-on clay testing and exploration
- Introduction to the main clay-based building systems
- Vegetarian lunch, coffee and tea
What to bring
- Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Notebook and pen
- Curiosity and a willingness to experiment
About the facilitator
Gregory Crawford has nearly two decades of experience in Permaculture Design, having taught and consulted on a variety of projects across four continents. He co-manages The Panya Project, a permaculture education center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and has worked as a design lead with Surplus Permaculture and Locus. He is also the co-founder of Win/Win Reactor, an urban permaculture project based in Detroit, USA. His specialties include methodology, urban permaculture, seed saving, and natural building.
Gregory began studying Tadelakt in 2015 under Ryan Chivers, one of the first to introduce the technique to the United States after learning it in Morocco. Since that formative workshop, he has steadily expanded his practice as a natural plasterer, developing a particular interest in exploring the material beyond its traditional applications.
His work includes the construction of four Tadelakt showers, as well as a period of study in Japan to deepen his understanding of traditional craft techniques. He later established an atelier in Siena, Italy, where he produced over fifty lime and clay spheres and tiles, along with lampshades and a range of experimental Tadelakt objects. These explorations extended the material into unconventional forms, including glass bottles and chairs.
Registration
Places are limited to maintain a focused and hands-on learning environment, allowing for close guidance and meaningful time with the materials.
Advance registration is required via email: cursos@escolaregenerativa.pt
