EcoNest Design

EcoNests are simple, elegant, and healthful handcrafted dwellings that welcome owner participation in their construction. They are the product of a design/build collaboration with Robert Laporte, a timber framer, author, natural house building pioneer and teacher and Paula Baker-Laporte, an award-winning architect, Bau-Biologist (building biologist), teacher, and author specializing in healthy and ecological design. The EcoNest utilizes natural building techniques including: timber framing, clay/straw walls, earth plastering, and natural, non-toxic finishes throughout.

An EcoNest is built to last for centuries. As an EcoNest owner you will be a building steward passing on a handcrafted heirloom that will serve many generations to follow. An EcoNest design starts with an exploration of your dreams, your needs, your budget and the opportunities and constraints presented by your building site. Often, when beginning the design process, your dreams and your budget will be at odds. We can show you how; with good efficient design you can eliminate wasted space and spend your resources where they will count.

All EcoNests are designed with the following trademark features, which make them unique.

A good hat and a good pair of boots

As our European predecessors have proven, natural building materials can last for centuries provided they are protected from the elements. A good roof overhang or "hat" will protect the building from driving rains and standing snow. Our EcoNests typically have a three to five foot overhang and additional portals and pent roofs to protect lower elements under gable roofs. Similarly, natural materials need to be protected from the ground up. A stone base provides this "pair of boots".

McTiegue Residence, photo by Laurie Dickson

Natural energy efficient for low-tech heating and cooling comfort

The EcoNests utilize several natural climate control design features to help reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling. Shading roof overhangs, cross ventilation in each room, earth coupled flooring and massive adobe internal walls help keep the homes comfortably cool in the summer. A greenhouse on the south side has just enough roof overhang to shade from the high summer sun angles while allowing for passive solar heating in the winter. Technically the clay/straw walls themselves provide an R-24 insulation value. We have experienced them to perform at a much higher rate than a frame wall of the same R value would. This is due to the uninterrupted monolithic wall plane and the mass provided by the clay, which helps store heat. We also insulate the roof cavity well beyond local requirements.

Peregrine 1, photo by Laurie Dickson

Wood, stone, bamboo

Nature has provided us with an infinite palette of colors and textures in the form of finish materials. Each EcoNest shell is an opportunity for the owners to create a personal expression. The role of our design team is to nurture you in this process by providing examples, ideas and resources.

Stanton Residence, photo by Laurie Dickson

At home in nature

An EcoNest is designed to work in harmony with its natural surroundings. Mindful siting, reverence for what is present in the nature of the site, roof water collection, alternatives for gray water and human waste, recycling, composting and power from the sun ... these are considerations that reach well beyond your building envelope that we will help you explore during the design phase and turn into a reality during your construction and beyond.

Little Residence, Santa Fe, NM

A healthy house for your family

Building with natural materials is an excellent foundation for a home that will nurture your family's health. Unfortunately even a natural home will not necessarily be a healthy one. Building for health is still a pioneering proposition and there are a myriad of things to consider and do differently from the pouring of the foundation to the daily maintenance after you move in. For example, there are concrete additives to avoid, formaldehyde free cabinets and roof insulation to special order, water filtration strategies to analyze, solvent free adhesives and special cleaning products to track down. Each EcoNest comes with a project manual that provides all sub-contractors and the home owner with complete instructions including a resource guide explaining where to find everything you will need. We will walk you step-by-step through the process ensuring that your new home will be a health-enhancing environment.

McTiegue Residence, photo by Laurie Dickson

EcoNests love to flock together!

Our vision is one of creating an ecological landscape for the cohabitation of humans in nature. We envision building a green community with each EcoNest as a building block and where, grouped together they create a synergy that offers a viable alternative to the ecologically destructive patterns of human settlement that are prevalent today.

These are the design components that combined with the EcoNest Building System create your EcoNest.

Site plan for a group of EcoNests

Create your EcoNest

Can we build an EcoNest for you? Contact us to discuss designing and building your EcoNest.

Back to Top