Knowledge and skillshare exchange through sustainable shelter building project

With this project, Common Knowledge aimed to equip rural adults with practical skills to build sustainable, off-grid shelters using locally sourced materials, in this case, Portugal’s abundant euc...

With this project, Common Knowledge aimed to equip rural adults with practical skills to build sustainable, off-grid shelters using locally sourced materials, in this case, Portugal’s abundant eucalyptus, a forestry waste product with high environmental impact. By developing and demonstrating ways to utilise eucalyptus effectively, we sought to make green construction skills accessible, no matter what building material one is using, to those without formal training, and also to those not necessarily starting a career in construction. Enabling affordable, eco-friendly housing solutions for all, helping them become the solutions to the problems they are facing. Our collaboration with Jardim do Mira added expertise in circular water systems and sociocratic governance, enhancing sustainable resource management within the project. This allowed us to address the unique challenges in Portugal while contributing a model for sustainable shelter building that other communities could adopt. Through our digital toolkit and hands-on approach, we hoped to foster resilience, inspire the use of waste materials, and support European sustainability goals by showcasing sustainable, self-sufficient living options.