ABOUT

EARTH BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND

Promoting the art and science of earth and natural building

Origins of EBANZ

The swallow depicted on our logo is building its nest from local clay and fibre to provide it with just what it needs.

The logo was designed by graphic artist Ron de Rooy of Whangarei.

The Quarry Arts Centre (Northland Craft Trust “The Quarry”) was the birthplace of EBANZ. It has been a critical element in the modern earth building renaissance and features several earth building. It was founded by Yvonne Rust who built a rammed earth house designed by Graeme North in the 1970’s. Yvonne insisted that those interested in earth building should work together so that there was a combined voice to “deal with councils”.

EBANZ was formed in the 1980’s under the leadership of Graeme North and Thijs Drupsteen. The first NZ Earthbuilding Conference was held in the Quarry in 1989, and was attended by earth building enthusiasts from all around NZ.

The first EBANZ magazines were also produced there.

Every year in the second week of January, The Northland Craft Trust still runs its annual “Quarry Summer Do” – a 10 day festival of up to a dozen arts and crafts courses including earth building.

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EBANZ promotes and supports earth and natural building in Aotearoa New Zealand

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