Services
designing natural buildings & empowering people to construct them
Do you dream of a home built with natural materials?
A home designed to ensure super energy efficiency...?
A home that reflects your personality and lifestyle...?
A home that is beautiful and functional...?
Down to Earth Design makes your dream possible!
Natural building is our sole focus and has been for over two decades. Designing over three dozen buildings that are compliant with U.S. codes, are durable for any climate, and that enable owner-participation during construction.
for anyone who dreams of a durable, energy efficient home made with local, abundant, natural materials
We offer 3 services to help you live your dream of a natural home:
Custom Home Design
Sigi has developed a unique collaborative design process that allows you to participate fully in all decision-making, from conception through construction. You get tools that help you communicate your vision & make well-informed decisions. Plus support every step of the way.
The result is a natural, healthy, energy-efficient home that reflects your personality & lifestyle.
Strawbale House Plans
We offer pre-designed strawbale house plans for those who dream of living in a natural home on a modest budget. You receive complete construction drawings, of course. But unlike any other available house plans, ours come with all of Sigi's customized support tools. The same tools she developed for custom design clients, including material calculators, "how to" instruction, a construction timeline, & more.
Hands-On Workshops
Sigi teaches empowering hands-on workshops on a wide variety of natural building topics for all you hands-on learners. She teaches the how as well as the why, so you learn true natural building problem-solving skills.
Workshops provide a safe, supportive hands-on learning environment with lots of support resources, including my favorite books & tools.
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“Sigi has a particular knack for working with you to figure out what you need - how you want to use a space, the feel you want to create..."
Sarah O'Herron & Ed Boyce (owners of Black Ankle Vineyards)
Why Natural Buildings?
Strawbale & cordwood home in WV, with cob, adobe floors, natural plasters, and a living roof
To me, how a building is designed should respond to where it is built.
Orienting with sun and wind patterns to create comfort without using energy. Using materials that are locally abundant and non-toxic. And using time-tested techniques that encourage participation during construction.
All of this just makes sense to me, and results in design solutions that beg the question:
"Why doesn't everyone build this way?"
Learn more about my approach to design
Learn more about my design process
Read my Strawbale Overview
“Sigi is all business when you have thirty people arriving for a 3-day workshop and all whimsy and creativity when you are designing..."
Beth Reese (owner of Taproot Farms)
How does a Natural Home FEEL?
Natural homes feel warm, quiet, & calm.
Natural buildings have a unique quality that is difficult to describe in words. Spaces feel quiet and calm, like going outside after a snowfall. You feel comforting warmth in winter and cool respite in summer, all while using less energy. The spaces are bright with natural sunlight and the wall surfaces are tactile & luscious. (I've yet to see a child let loose in a natural home that doesn't touch or hug the walls.)
In short, a natural home feels...well...like home!
See photos of natural homes
Read my Big Picture Overview of Natural Building
Sunken tub/shower with burnished lime plastered waterproof walls, a technique called "Tadelakt"
“Sigi was just what we sought, a true partner in the process of building our dream..."
Jeff Feldman & Kristin Alexander
Debunking Some Natural Building Myths
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You don't need to worry about the big bad wolf.
Maybe that's obvious, but the fact remains that many myths exist about the efficacy of natural buildings. Let's debunk a few of these misunderstandings:
✓ Yes, you can build durably with straw-even in wet climates
✓ No, strawbale buildings are not flammable-they actually exceed fire code requirements
✓ Yes, you can get a standard building permit
✓ Yes, you can get insurance & financing
Keep an eye out for an in-depth article on this topic soon...
Adobe floor in the meditation space of a strawbale home, as seen from the loft above