Prototype Design (Source: Granit Architecture)
PIONEERING 3D PRINTED EARTH CONSTRUCTION IN THE UK
The Earth Build Project is pioneering a new zero-carbon construction method in the UK, combining an ancient building material, Earth, with modern digital 3D printing technology.
Our rigorous R&D programme is focused on developing a wall system which incorporates only biomaterials – earth, waste fibres and timber – bypassing any carbon intensive modern building materials such as concrete, steel, brick & block. Our system will address two urgent imperatives: lowering construction costs whilst reducing harm to the environment. We expect to be able to meet UK Building Standards by 2027, and be ready to licence our technology by 2028/29, so that habitable, low-carbon, low-cost earth buildings can become a reality.
Three
dimentional
printed
earth
Still very much a nascent technology, the process of 3D printing with earth (3DPE) involves pumping an earthen material mix through a hose attached to a large robot, and extruding it along a pathway determined by a digitally-generated design.
The process has the potential to challenge modern carbon-intensive building methods and materials, to offer a decarbonised alternative with substantial time and energy efficiencies, creating an eco-friendly, low embodied carbon building material.
Earth has been widely used as a building material throughout the world for centuries. Here in the UK we have been building with cob – a mix of clay-rich earth, sand, water and straw – for hundreds of years, so we know it can withstand the UK climate.
Our challenge is to make it extrudable without compromising its structural and thermal properties, and without causing it to shrink or crack.
THE CHALLENGE
The UK needs faster, greener, cheaper ways to build. Existing methods can’t deliver. We are facing a severe housing crisis, alongside an urgent and escalating environmental…
THE OPPORTUNITY
The UK’s construction industry represents a significant opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, while delivering strong industry and investor value…
OUR APPROACH
Our pioneering construction system uses robotic printing technology and natural biomaterials to create habitable, high-performance buildings. We expect to prove the viability of 3D printed…
According to the Smithsonian magaazine, the #1 thing you need to know about the next 40 years is:
“Sophisticated Buildings Will Be Made Of Mud”
(Aug 2010)
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The Earth Build Project is an 'Innovative Start-up' Member of the UK Green Building Council
Milestones
The UK’s first 3D printed full-height earthen walls!
Boughton Loam – Being a part of the solution
Our purely biomaterials mix reaches new heights
Key Collabarations Expand Expertise
First Small Wall Build-Up Successfully Printed
FAQs
What goes into the mix?
It’s predominantly an earthen mix similar to cob, but the make-up of sub-soil is different in every location, so we adjust the ratios of clay, sand and silt to balance each mix according to what our testing shows.We know that ideally, we need a 15-20% clay content and work other elements around that
We are experimenting with different fibres including hemp shiv, cellulose (warmcel) and straw, and produced over 200 samples for testing in the lab over the summer of 2025.
These results will inform our next testing phase when we’ll be experimenting with other bio-materials such as Xanthum Gum, Tannin, Chitosan, Lignin, Sodium Alginate and more, looking for properties that enhance earth’s performance as a building material.
Where are you based?
Our outdoor research facility is on a farm in a village just outside Stamford in Lincolnshire. We hope to be able to host open days in due course, for members of the community and general public to see the robot in action.
How can I get involved?
We are keen to involve young people between the ages of 16-24, who might be interested in our work and could commit to a few days as volunteers or for work experience. We’re a very friendly bunch!
How can I help finacially?
We warmly welcome donations of any size which can be made either directly through this page on our website ’ or by contacting our Founder, Gayle Parsons, here to discuss more sizeable donations.
Investors can find our pitch deck here. It offers a summary of the market opportunity with a convincing argument for supporting our work. We are applying to be registered for SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme), which means that you’ll be able to claim back 50% of your investment in tax relief.
The Team
Our team comprises experts in architecture, technology, and sustainable construction. We bring together the diverse expertise needed to tackle the unique challenges of 3D printing with earth.
GAYLE PARSONS
PROJECT FOUNDER
As a passionate advocate for climate-change solutions, Gayle’s strength as an innovator is in creating the vision for this pioneering building method. Her leadership and business acumen has allowed her to draw together
a team of talented material scientists, architects, engineers and strategists to deliver the world’s first
habitable 3D-printed earth buildings. Read more
MEGAN McGRATTAN
RESEARCH & SUSTAINABILITY LEAD, BUSINESS STRATEGIST
With a Masters in Sustainable Building, and a diverse background in businesses across the globe, Megan has spent over a decade delivering high-level, 23thoughtful strategy paired with the operational execution and excellence needed to drive any business forward. She is an accomplished generalist, with a deep belief in
the importance of our connection to land and place. Read more
KENNETH WILSON
DIGITAL FABRICATION LEAD
Kenneth is an architect and researcher specializing in sustainable construction, bringing over a decade of experience to the role. Holding an advanced degree in Bio-Integrated Design from the Bartlett School of Architecture, their expertise is centered on pioneering soil 3D printing, where they have led major research projects from concept to prototype, exploring its applications for resilient and low-carbon structures. Read more
Our Values & the Co-op
The Earth Build Project Ltd is a Multi-stakeholder Co-operative Society, run for the benefit of its members and society as a whole.
Our ethical conscience in setting up our organisation as a co-operative reflects the mission-led values of the product we are developing. We aim to put PLANET ahead of Profit, wherever possible, in the belief that the free market’s constant drive for commercial growth is the root cause of the climate crisis we are facing.
We believe that sustainable improvement can only truly come from collective action – this means collaboration, not competition – and as such we will always try to make as much of our research available ‘open source’ as we can, for others to use and learn from, without compromising our strong market position.
The Earth Build Project Ltd is registered in England with the FCA on the Mutuals Register, number 5251. You can access our Society Rules and Registration Certificate here
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