The Use of Natural Materials for Construction Projects – Social Aspects of Sustainable Building: Case Studies from Australia and Europe

The three pillars of sustainability are the economic, environmental and social pillars. To achieve sustainable construction projects, these three priorities must be balanced. Considering social aspects is of equal importance when considering the design, materials and technologies used in buildings. The increased use of naturally based materials from renewable sources using traditional techniques is common in sustainable buildings and can help balance some of the social aspects. Building with traditional technologies such as compressed earth blocks (CEBs), rammed earth, adobe, or strawbale technologies is a viable option to conventional construction methods when the structure meets modern scientific and engineering standards. High-quality, sustainable buildings are achievable using local resources and local labour. This paper presents case studies from remote Australia and Europe and shows the social and environmental impacts according to the technology used. Prior consideration of the social aspects can result in the improvement of the sustainability of the building.