The finished decorated mud house
Clay house building techniques with children

How children become engineers.

By Regina Kruse-Özçelik

Early Birds Istanbul Founder and Author

Part of the Early Birds Istanbul kindergarten cycle involves building a new mud house. Every year, we use a different mud construction technique, and the roof is not just a roof to protect the house from rain, but also part of the mud house artwork. None of the houses that we have designed and built together with the children over the past five years are alike.

What do we need to build a clay house?

A wooden wheelbarrow for children and a bucket filled with soil on the floor.
A child fills a bucket with straw.
A child scoops water from a bucket

The materials are always the same: clay soil, straw, water, a solid foundation made of wood or stones, a roof structure made of pipes or wooden slats, a roof covering made of water-repellent material, a large tarpaulin, and many eager feet and hands. Not to mention a week of sunshine! 

Where can a clay house be built with children?

Children's feet in the straw-clay mixture
Children shape the clay wall with their hands
The clay-straw mixture covers the foundation of the house
A child inserts a blue plexiglass pane into the clay wall
Hexagonal green and blue tiles decorate the clay wall

The clay house needs a dry foundation and should therefore not be built in a depression. This would fill with water when it rains, and the foundation and clay walls would absorb the rainwater. The result would be wet walls, which would quickly decay. The aim is to keep the clay house dry. A level surface is important in any case.

My clay houses are usually built on a floor area of no more than 1.50 × 1.50 meters, and the walls are about 1.20 meters high. Depending on the clay construction technique, the actual construction phase takes varying amounts of time. The clay bricks need a few days to dry, which extends the construction phase accordingly. With the wattle and daub technique, the clay mixture can be worked into the wall immediately, which in turn shortens the construction phase. It is up to you to try out the appropriate clay construction technique.

At Early Birds Istanbul Kindergarten, we tried both techniques several times and achieved fantastic results every time. 

The clay walls of the house are finished and decorated with colorful tiles
A look at a mud house with a grass roof
A view of the mud house with a blue dome as a roof
The finished decorated mud house with a pointed roof
The finished mud house with a pointed roof and floral decorations
A look at the two mud houses and the obstacle course made of ladders, boards, and pipes
A look at the first mud house with a pointed roof covered in jute. Next to it are large pipes, a wooden wheelbarrow, wooden blocks, and tires

How can a clay house project begin?

All employees and children are involved in the construction project from planning through to implementation. The project begins with the question: Who lives where? High-rise buildings, detached homes, or apartments, for example. The children are encouraged to explore and photograph houses in their neighborhood. We also involve architects and artists in the project, and referencing the buildings designed by Gaudi and Hundertwasser is very inspiring for everyone. As with all our construction projects, the children paint their ideas and design small models.

When can a clay house be built?

This question depends primarily on the climate in your area. You will definitely need a rain-free and warm week so that the mud walls can dry completely. Only then can the children move into their house and live in it according to their own ideas. Of course, we can't forget the official housewarming party! Success must be celebrated together.

If you need assistance with planning and building a clay house, you can contact me here.