Interactive presentations and keynotes

 We offer a range of classes, presentations and trainings that can easily be tailored to meet your needs. Whether you are trying to build specific technical skills in your organization or simply wish to share the beauty of natural materials with a let our team empower you and your community with real world solutions. The following are typically 40 minute presentations either online or in person that highlight the topic and then allow for engaged discussions up to 

System Change

Regional Resilience:  Increased vulnerability is effecting communities at an alarming rate. Fragility can be due to climate change, social/political unrest, or the degradation of aging infrastructure. How we prepare for and recover from catastrophic events is largely dependent on the social and environmental cohesion in a region. This presentation takes examples from our work in regions around the world that face fragility and weave resilience. 
 

The New Face of Globalization: How do circular economies adn 4th sector entities challenge extractive models of development.  It is an opportunity for co-evolution as individual human beings. This lecture provides a closer look at how individuals take a positive role in an increasingly global world. The lecture includes a direct examination of the work of Kleiwerks International and our collaborators and peers from around the world.

Natural Building

Natural Building Level 1: “Natural Building” refers to modern interpretations of ancient building techniques. These techniques include earthquake safe straw bale, Adobe/Cob and Bamboo as well as current engineering and testing programs. Additionally, it includes how systems like living roofs and grey water systems can fit seamlessly into holistic design.

Natural Building Level 2: This presentation examines individual materials and their evolution from historical context to the present. It is intended to follow the Level 1 Lecture and dive into greater details on the specifics of current testing and standardization processes. These lectures are geared towards construction, engineering and architecture students.Earthen Architecture: A retrospective of earthen architectural techniques from continents around the world. We examine the production of uniform building materials and the evolution of building styles as they spread out from their origin to far-reaching parts of the globe.

Natural Building: Emerging technology:  Here we focus on the emerging products and machines in the natural material marketplace. 

Materials and Techniques

Timber: A critical exploration of the material from 2×4’s to locally milled lumber. This lecture includes FSC certification and plantation style production and explores the Pros and Con’s of the international forest product market. We also take a deep dive into mass timber and recycled lumber products. 

Fibers: This lecture covers an interesting array of natural fibers and their uses in modern construction. We look at the benefits of hemp, bamboo, sisal, straw and straw bale as well as explore the methods of processing and assembly.

Earth: Discover the many permutations of earthen construction from technological, economic and ecological points of view.

Cements and Beyond: A critical examines of the negative effects of mainstream cement production. This lecture highlights the different ways natural builders have responded, including fly ash substitution and minimal content concrete mixes as well as recycling options.

Bamboo : An in-depth look at the state of bamboo and its use as a construction material as well its diverse application in our daily lives. We go behind the scenes in engineering labs and into plantations in Asia and Latin America. As well as a deep dive into the largest bamboo treatment facility in the world, in southern Bangladesh. 

Past Clients: U.C. Berkeley, University of Montreal, McGill University, Merrit Community Collage, San Fransisco Institute of Architecture, West Coast Green, Solar Living Institute, Kleiwerks International