The heart of our Education program is The Natural Building School, based in Westwood Valley Eco-Village in Zahle, Beqaa in the Lebanon mountains. Here we teach workshops and classes in the various methods, mostly earth-based, that we ourselves are using. We teach children (school or other groups), University Students and Adults, predominantly on-site, but collaborations with institutions or organisations elsewhere are being developed to introduce these Bio-based techniques to the next generation of designers and builders. Finally, we have a Volunteer and Intership program.

The Natural Building School will be fully open to the public by Autumn 2024, containing a Workshop, Teaching space (The Nest), Warehouse (The Shed), Organic Permaculture vegetable Garden and Camping area. In the coming years, a Dormitory and Familiy Cabins will be developed for longer-term visitors or residents. All of the buildings are predominantly made from Earth, combined with local Stone, Timber and Plant fibres.

THE traditional wall technique throughout the Middle East. A cheap, local and natural way to build strong structural walls without the need for wood / timber. Its possible to create both thin internal partition walls and thick load-bearing external walls in a variety of shapes including arches and curves or just straight conventional rectangular shapes. We'll cover the theory of earth building properties and the basics of making mixes and bricks, laying and levelling walls and plastering.

Learn to make and apply beautiful and durable plasters from earth, sand and lime. We will cover some of the theory of these materials and learn to work with hands, trowels, spoons and gem stones to create flat or curved finishing plasters. Lime plasters, idea to create a breathable waterproof outside render will be covered along with Tadalakt, a morrocon technique to create highly waterproof shining finishes in traditional hamams.

Join us for our most popular introductory Natural Building workshop.

Learn to select and mix earth to make Adobe bricks, Wattle & Daub, Cob and Plasters from base to finish. Learn about the advantages and specific techniques for working with this wonderful material under our feet and see the various buildings, ovens and examples we have made

Learn the theory and practical aspects of this quick and easy earth wall method. Great for indoor thin walls or where insulation not needed.

Learn to weave local reeds / canes, prepare earth-based plaster & then applying it to a smooth, flat finish.

Learn and practice building beautiful strong dry-stone walls without the new for cement mortar. Discover the joy of building a giant puzzle from the rocks on your land with a minimal or no shaping.

The BEST wall technique (in my view) for any climate experiencing hot summers and cold winters. A cheap, local and natural way to super insulate your home. Once coated with an earth plaster and waterproofed with lime from the outside, the sandwich panel effect produces a very strong composite shear wall. We'll cover the theory of straw properties and the basics of insulation calculations and will practice base plates, selecting, placing & tying bales, fixing & levelling and plastering.

Ever dreamed of building your own house from local, natural or recycled materials? Want to spend a month in the beautiful Lebanon mountains?

Join Building Baladi for a 4-week Workshop from 15 July to 9 August in Zahle, where we'll build a complete structure using:
- local stone (foundation)
- roundwood timber poles (structure)
- earth, sand and plant fibre (wattle & Daub walls)
- lime (tadalakt plastering)
- basic plumbing and electrical installations


For each step of the process of building an 8m² Shower block we will discuss the background theory and teach you the techniques and tools needed. All levels of experience and abilities welcome. Minimum age 16 years.

Time can also be set aside to support you on specific design questions for your own projects.

Join us for a two-day workshop introducing carpentry and timber framing for Natural Building projects. We'll cover the theory, skills, tools and together build part of a structure to give you confidence in starting to design and build with wood.