Designing Your House Like Nature

No.074 — Read old posts on Tinyfarmlab.com
Reading Time 3 minutes

Traditional architecture teaches us to plan everything in advance.
Every detail is figured down to the millimeter and finalized before starting construction.

However, when we are designing a cob house,
we have to abandon this rigid approach.

Instead, mirror how nature builds.

In nature, nothing is built with a rigid, unchanging plan.
Nature begins with a genotypic template—
a basic framework of what’s possible.

Then adapts endlessly, responding to every nuance of the environment.

A tree does not grow according to a fixed blueprint—
It adapts to wind, light, soil, and surrounding plants.


Instead of forcing a plan onto the land,
we let the climate, land, and materials guide the design.

Cob allows for this process which is iterative, responsive, and intuitive.

Instead of designing every element beforehand,
we start with just a simple skeletal plan, a general shape, and room locations.

The fixed points need to be the foundation, stem wall (plinth), levels, and door openings.

Once the foundation is in place,
most design choices are made intuitively.

Where should the windows go?
How should the walls curve?
What materials feel right under our hands?

We begin shaping the walls with an open mindset.

Adjust window placements based on how the light moves throughout the day.
Experiment with curves and niches,
allowing the structure to evolve as you build.

Use intuition to guide last-minute design tweaks—
don’t be afraid to change placements of features like benches, storage, or shelves.

Some of the best design decisions happen after the building process begins,
when we interact with the space in real time.

If every detail is predetermined,
we miss the opportunity to adapt and evolve.

A house built intuitively feels more alive,
more in tune with its surroundings.

At Tiny Farm Lab, we believe in designing like nature—
a guiding vision,
starting with a strong foundation,
and then letting the space evolve.

This approach makes architecture more human,
more connected, and more alive.

Love,
Raghav and Ansh

PS: We share daily tips and insights on LinkedIn about cob, natural homes, and sustainable living. Follow us or connect with us to join the conversation!

What you can watch - Retired Art Teacher Sculpts Her Own Natural Building!

What you can listen to - We Create - Why we need handbuilt homes

What You Can Read - Yakisugi: Japanese Charred Wood Finish

Yakisugi is a traditional method of wood preservation. Charring wood is not specific to Japan, but charring sugi (Japanese cypress) for cladding use is a traditional feature of some Japanese architecture.

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