Join us for a two-day workshop, led by Francesca Leibowitz with an introduction by Barbara Jones with the Material Cultures team and Oxfordshire Community Land Trust, exploring both the theory and hands-on practice of building with straw.
THE WORKSHOP: This workshop will explore the use of local straw to construct housing. The first day will consist of guided visits to local sites where straw is grown and processed, focusing on how it can be produced regeneratively in local landscapes. On the second day, participants will learn about on the practical techniques for stacking straw bales to form stable walls. An introduction will be given by Barbara Jones, who will provide an overview of the contemporary practices of straw construction, including modular prefabrication systems. Participants will learn how to arrange and fasten the bales securely, creating solid, well-constructed walls. The workshop will cover the basics of using straw bales as a building material, focusing on effective stacking methods for strength and stability. These workshops welcome people of all building abilities, beginners as well as experienced practitioners. All materials and equipment are provided.
Barbara Jones is a pioneering natural builder and educator, passionate about creating affordable, healthy homes using natural materials. With a background in mainstream construction and years of experience in strawbale building, Barbara has been at the forefront of the movement since 1995. Through the School of Natural Building (SNaB), she mentors self-builders and teaches across the UK. She is the author of the acclaimed manual Building with Straw Bales, and has received multiple awards for her groundbreaking work, including the CIOB’s "World’s Best Woman Builder." As a designer of innovative, cement-free foundations and an advocate for EcoCocon straw panels, Barbara continues to innovate how we think about sustainable building.
Francesca Leibowitz is a designer, maker and architect whose work varies in media and scale, but has a common focus on details, materiality and sustainability. Understanding manufacturing and building processes in order to influence design lies at the centre of her work. Francesca has often worked with Material Cultures, a London-based architecture, design and research studio, having taught architectural design and construction with them at the ETH in Zurich and Central Saint Martins in London. Francesca often works alongside Material Cultures, facilitating workshops and teaching architectural design and construction with them around the UK, at the ETH in Zurich and Central Saint Martins in London.
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT): is a non-profit organisation that brings land into community ownership across Oxfordshire for the benefit of local people. Its main focus at the moment is creating genuinely and permanently affordable, community-led housing. Rooted in the values of sustainability, cooperation, and local empowerment, OCLT partners with individuals, groups, and organisations to build homes and places that meet real community needs.
ACCESS: Some of the site visits on day 1 of each workshop will be held on rough terrain and may pose issues for those in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility. Reach out to us (josh@oclt.org.uk) if you would like more information and photos in order to assess together whether you would be able to access these sites. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet at the main workshop site at Makespace, Aristotle Lane.
TRANSPORTATION: Material Cultures and OCLT are rooted in a low-carbon approach so please travel to the main workshop site (Makespace Oxford on Aristotle Lane, OX2 6TP) by public or shared transport if you can. We will be trying to do the same. We will provide transportation by minibus from Makespace to all sites we visit on day 1 of the workshop.
RESEARCH: OCLT will be working with researchers from Oxford and Oxford Brookes Universities to assess the impact of these workshops. Participants will be asked to complete pre-attendance and post-attendance questionnaires, and participate in a brief reflection session as part of the workshop.
PRICE: Many people are under-represented in land work and construction and we want to do all we can to help respond to this. Material Cultures and Oxfordshire Community Land Trust are both not-for-profit and we have tried to keep the price as low as possible. Before booking, we encourage all our learners to read the booking guidelines linked below. Price includes tuition, materials, tools, lunch and refreshments.
If you have any questions regarding the workshop, please email info@materialcultures.org
£340/person Solidarity fee
£240/person Standard fee
£0-180/person Concession fee (sliding scale)
BOOKING: There is a limited number of places in the workshop and booking is essential. Please read the BOOKING GUIDELINES before buying your ticket.
BUNDLE OFFER: if you purchase a standard or solidarity ticket for one Oxford workshop, we can offer you half-price tickets for our other Oxford workshops in June 2025. Please book and pay for your preferred workshop first, and then email josh@oclt.org.uk with subject line format: Workshop Name_bundle offer
Example: Timber Cladding with Jeremy Ralph, 2025_bundle offer
CONCESSION FEE: If you wish to apply for the concession fee, please fill in the FORM and explain your circumstances, based on the eligibility criteria listed.
Oxfordshire Community Land Trust manages the concession tickets. If you have any questions, please email josh@oclt.org.uk with subject line format: Workshop Name_concession tickets
Example: Timber Cladding with Jeremy Ralph, 2025_concession tickets