Robert Laporte

Robert Laporte introduced light straw clay construction to North America, combining it with a family of other hand-crafted techniques including traditional timber framing, earthen floors, and natural plasters to create a holistic natural building system. He has built over 50 houses using this system, in climates ranging from the arid deserts of New Mexico to the frigid cold of Manitoba. Together with Paula Baker-Laporte, Robert created the EcoNest concept and has trained hundreds of professional builders and aspiring owner-builders in using the techniques. He is the co-author of Econest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw and Timber.