Michael Burchert
@michaelburchert.bsky.social
🇪🇺 Educator, Speaker, Builder, Activist. Regenerative construction.
That #strawhouse guy.
Fixing mistakes @ built environment. Independent #Bauwende construction revolution advocacy, english & german word salad, enjoy! https://linktr.ee/michaelburchert
That #strawhouse guy.
Fixing mistakes @ built environment. Independent #Bauwende construction revolution advocacy, english & german word salad, enjoy! https://linktr.ee/michaelburchert
Pinned
Building with (your own) Earth 'practical' webinar postponed to 30. Januar 20:00! (UK: 7 p.m., PST: 11 a.m.)
Covering half timbered houses with straw insulation was common once in the Eifel Region in Germany.
To do this, 20 cm stalks are glued on the wall with clay. All it requires is some patience because the materials are basically free. Funny that this is going viral now.
youtu.be/afix6HfLwvk?...
To do this, 20 cm stalks are glued on the wall with clay. All it requires is some patience because the materials are basically free. Funny that this is going viral now.
youtu.be/afix6HfLwvk?...
No One Builds Walls Like This Anymore!
YouTube video by Aged Skills
youtu.be
January 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Covering half timbered houses with straw insulation was common once in the Eifel Region in Germany.
To do this, 20 cm stalks are glued on the wall with clay. All it requires is some patience because the materials are basically free. Funny that this is going viral now.
youtu.be/afix6HfLwvk?...
To do this, 20 cm stalks are glued on the wall with clay. All it requires is some patience because the materials are basically free. Funny that this is going viral now.
youtu.be/afix6HfLwvk?...
Reposted by Michael Burchert
This year I have come to appreciate that
this is a tool
for childhood independence
and parental freedom
this is a tool
for childhood independence
and parental freedom
January 16, 2026 at 7:44 PM
This year I have come to appreciate that
this is a tool
for childhood independence
and parental freedom
this is a tool
for childhood independence
and parental freedom
Reposted by Michael Burchert
Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.
January 17, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
You just keep poking the EU 🇪🇺 bear, and wait to see where it gets you.
Idiot.
Idiot.
Miller: Denmark is a tiny country with a tiny economy and a tiny military. They cannot defend Greenland… Under every understanding of law that has existed about territorial control for 500 years, to control a territory you have to be able to defend a territory…
January 17, 2026 at 6:55 PM
You just keep poking the EU 🇪🇺 bear, and wait to see where it gets you.
Idiot.
Idiot.
Tried to remember how long I owned my bicycle...
* 37 years ago, family expatriated from East Germany.
* 35 years ago, we discussed the need to phase out oil and gas heating due to climate change.
* 28 years ago, we discussed universal basic income and the coming shift to the right/ fascism at uni.
* 37 years ago, family expatriated from East Germany.
* 35 years ago, we discussed the need to phase out oil and gas heating due to climate change.
* 28 years ago, we discussed universal basic income and the coming shift to the right/ fascism at uni.
January 17, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Tried to remember how long I owned my bicycle...
* 37 years ago, family expatriated from East Germany.
* 35 years ago, we discussed the need to phase out oil and gas heating due to climate change.
* 28 years ago, we discussed universal basic income and the coming shift to the right/ fascism at uni.
* 37 years ago, family expatriated from East Germany.
* 35 years ago, we discussed the need to phase out oil and gas heating due to climate change.
* 28 years ago, we discussed universal basic income and the coming shift to the right/ fascism at uni.
We found this #sufficiency #postgrowth book by @timjackson.org.uk in the village book telephone booth. (A former telephone booth with shelves where you share books for free.) Trust me this village is the least place where you'd expect this, but it is 2026. Time.
January 17, 2026 at 6:20 PM
We found this #sufficiency #postgrowth book by @timjackson.org.uk in the village book telephone booth. (A former telephone booth with shelves where you share books for free.) Trust me this village is the least place where you'd expect this, but it is 2026. Time.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
🫱🫱🫱https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5aarz5v45athznfbapvjno4/feed/aaajkabun3wgw
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
🫱🫱🫱https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5aarz5v45athznfbapvjno4/feed/aaajkabun3wgw
Reposted by Michael Burchert
We’re building a generation of apartments in Australia that are not designed for our warming climate.
Too much glass. Not enough shade.
(This resident’s energy bills are also $300/month!)
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Too much glass. Not enough shade.
(This resident’s energy bills are also $300/month!)
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
January 17, 2026 at 7:33 AM
We’re building a generation of apartments in Australia that are not designed for our warming climate.
Too much glass. Not enough shade.
(This resident’s energy bills are also $300/month!)
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Too much glass. Not enough shade.
(This resident’s energy bills are also $300/month!)
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Reposted by Michael Burchert
200 sociale biobased woningen op de parkeerplaats vh oude hoofdkantoor van Philips.
Over een jaar is het af.
paulderuiter.nl/projects/tru...
Over een jaar is het af.
paulderuiter.nl/projects/tru...
Trudo: eerste volledig houten sociale woningbouwproject in Eindhoven
Trudo bouwt eerste volledig houten sociale woningbouwproject op historisch Philips-terrein in Eindhoven - architect Paul de Ruiter Architects
paulderuiter.nl
January 17, 2026 at 3:18 PM
200 sociale biobased woningen op de parkeerplaats vh oude hoofdkantoor van Philips.
Over een jaar is het af.
paulderuiter.nl/projects/tru...
Over een jaar is het af.
paulderuiter.nl/projects/tru...
Reposted by Michael Burchert
Grok is so much worse than you think.
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Grok is so much worse than you think.
Finally big enough.
January 17, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Finally big enough.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
I wonder what chance there would be, how much adaptation needed, to pass English building control?
January 17, 2026 at 1:10 PM
I wonder what chance there would be, how much adaptation needed, to pass English building control?
Drip edges and roof overhangs ftw.
Think carefully before specifying self coloured external renders.
They look great the day they’re applied, but become awfully tardy looking awfully quickly
They look great the day they’re applied, but become awfully tardy looking awfully quickly
January 17, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Drip edges and roof overhangs ftw.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
I've spent 20 years looking into the use of various pozzolans, and while they have a definite role, I'm increasingly of the view that there cannot be meaningful decarbonisation without massive dematerialisation.
Oh, and I really like the term "someone in the pozzolan space"
Oh, and I really like the term "someone in the pozzolan space"
January 17, 2026 at 12:44 PM
I've spent 20 years looking into the use of various pozzolans, and while they have a definite role, I'm increasingly of the view that there cannot be meaningful decarbonisation without massive dematerialisation.
Oh, and I really like the term "someone in the pozzolan space"
Oh, and I really like the term "someone in the pozzolan space"
People often already understand what sustainable construction is and what it isn't. Even if the industry is causing uncertainty here because suddenly everything is somehow sustainable, on paper. What's missing are limits; people need that.
Yesterday someone in the pozzolan space remarked how many people they interact with don't understand the role of concrete in ghg emissions, let alone envt of steel, dredged sand, mined aggregates, glass. A lot of what we see reinforces as ok (& that's before land use). We're going to have to build
January 17, 2026 at 12:23 PM
People often already understand what sustainable construction is and what it isn't. Even if the industry is causing uncertainty here because suddenly everything is somehow sustainable, on paper. What's missing are limits; people need that.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
Similarly, we will have zero drywall. Once it all got recycled it was a bg never again moment. Between exposed galvanized, especially if you can find antique or even used, & the touch of whimsy from something like these porcelain light switches, outlet covers, etc it could be very handsome
PORCELAIN WALL LIGHT SWITCH MINT FAT BUTTON - DYKE & DEAN
Buy PORCELAIN WALL LIGHT SWITCH MINT FAT BUTTON for only £93.00 at DYKE & DEAN!
www.dykeanddean.us
January 16, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Similarly, we will have zero drywall. Once it all got recycled it was a bg never again moment. Between exposed galvanized, especially if you can find antique or even used, & the touch of whimsy from something like these porcelain light switches, outlet covers, etc it could be very handsome
Reposted by Michael Burchert
The idea that nature based solutions are so well articulated & yet here we implement them rarely & slowly. We can shift a hunk of climate emissions w/ aggressive building of green streets, roofs, facades, urban ag, urban forest (an ag forest?!), habitat. The places would be delightfully livable
Contribution of prioritized urban nature-based solutions allocation to carbon neutrality - Nature Climate Change
Effective spatial allocation of the nature-based solutions is important for city mitigation through various pathways. This Analysis allocates prioritized urban nature-based solutions to major European...
www.nature.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:14 PM
The idea that nature based solutions are so well articulated & yet here we implement them rarely & slowly. We can shift a hunk of climate emissions w/ aggressive building of green streets, roofs, facades, urban ag, urban forest (an ag forest?!), habitat. The places would be delightfully livable
Gardening 2026:
gardenmatch.co.uk/strawbale-ho...
gardenmatch.co.uk/strawbale-ho...
January 17, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Gardening 2026:
gardenmatch.co.uk/strawbale-ho...
gardenmatch.co.uk/strawbale-ho...
Reposted by Michael Burchert
building science hippies (complimentary) do your thing
It's so hard to find anything about a better type of construction. Is there only a hand full of people around here actively interested in a new material culture that is compatible with our (climate and biodiversity) goals?
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
January 16, 2026 at 8:10 PM
building science hippies (complimentary) do your thing
🫱🫱🫱https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5aarz5v45athznfbapvjno4/feed/aaajkabun3wgw
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
🫱🫱🫱https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:z5aarz5v45athznfbapvjno4/feed/aaajkabun3wgw
It's so hard to find anything about a better type of construction. Is there only a hand full of people around here actively interested in a new material culture that is compatible with our (climate and biodiversity) goals?
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
January 16, 2026 at 8:08 PM
It's so hard to find anything about a better type of construction. Is there only a hand full of people around here actively interested in a new material culture that is compatible with our (climate and biodiversity) goals?
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
I want to repost mainly this weekend so please point me to the good stuff.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
Climate neutral construction is very possible with rapidly renewable materials. Right now, not in the distant future via external offsets or excel tricks.
In the background of this demo you can see 2x 4-storey straw buildings near Hamburg, with on site straw infill.
In the background of this demo you can see 2x 4-storey straw buildings near Hamburg, with on site straw infill.
October 6, 2024 at 8:27 AM
Climate neutral construction is very possible with rapidly renewable materials. Right now, not in the distant future via external offsets or excel tricks.
In the background of this demo you can see 2x 4-storey straw buildings near Hamburg, with on site straw infill.
In the background of this demo you can see 2x 4-storey straw buildings near Hamburg, with on site straw infill.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
November 18, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by Michael Burchert
I love this old farming infrastructure of a bygone age. It would be perfect for a new rural economy centered around making high value, high purpose products out of rapidly renewable materials. (straw panels, mats, batts, blow in insulation, earth and fiber drywall, ...) with a local workforce.
December 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I love this old farming infrastructure of a bygone age. It would be perfect for a new rural economy centered around making high value, high purpose products out of rapidly renewable materials. (straw panels, mats, batts, blow in insulation, earth and fiber drywall, ...) with a local workforce.
Reposted by Michael Burchert
I know that nobody wants to hear it, but I've just done the math again because of a press inquiry: if we go back to 2000' living space per capita of 36m² in Hamburg, 'no' new buildings would have to be built until 2050, despite the growing population.
We need to think about that.
We need to think about that.
December 16, 2024 at 6:15 PM
I know that nobody wants to hear it, but I've just done the math again because of a press inquiry: if we go back to 2000' living space per capita of 36m² in Hamburg, 'no' new buildings would have to be built until 2050, despite the growing population.
We need to think about that.
We need to think about that.