Vacancies – EarthBuildProject

Volunteer with The Earth Build Project This Summer

Help Build a New Future for Housing – from the Ground Up

The Earth Build Project is a cooperative business at the forefront of sustainable construction. We combine robotic 3D printing with traditional earth materials to develop zero-carbon building methods that are scientifically rigorous, architecturally innovative, and rooted in natural systems.

This summer, we’re looking for volunteers to join us on a groundbreaking journey: testing how locally sourced earth and organic fibres can be digitally fabricated into durable, energy-efficient building elements – without a drop of cement or concrete.

Our work is practical, research-driven, and committed to reshaping how we build; putting materials, knowledge, and design back into the hands of communities.

Why This Matters

The UK construction industry is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions – and it’s failing to provide affordable, healthy homes. The Earth Build Project exists to challenge that.

3D printing with earth offers a real alternative: an approach that uses natural, abundant materials and robotic precision to rapidly construct building shells that are both climate-conscious and community-led. But this future won’t be achieved by technology alone. We are coupling deep material science and architectural research with cooperative values and hands-on testing to prove the viability of this model.

We envision housing that:

Has near-zero embodied carbon and is designed for disassembly
Is thermally efficient and integrates green biomaterials
Can be delivered affordably at scale, while staying rooted in place, people and ecological systems
Is the product of open, collaborative research rather than proprietary silos

We are embracing collaboration across disciplines and stakeholders to speed up innovation in sustainable construction. If you care about climate action, social justice, and hands-on innovation, or if you’re driven by science, design, sustainability – and the idea that housing should be a home, not a speculative asset – then we want to work with you. This is your chance to help pioneer a new way forward. Together, we’re building more than structures: we’re building hope — join us!

What We’re Doing This Summer

From mid-July, we’ll run a 10 to 12-week test program with our robotic arm 3D printer in Stamford (Lincolnshire), just north of London. We’ll be:

Printing test components: starting small (100mm³) and scaling up through a series of test cubes and wall sections
Evaluating earth mixes and additives: refining formulations for strength, printability, and thermal performance
Creating functional, public showcase pieces – like benches, tables or planters – that invite people to experience 3D-printed earth for themselves
Documenting and learning: generating open-source insights for architects, engineers, and communities

The final printed pieces will be displayed in key public locations – including heritage sites like Burghley House – to demonstrate the beauty and practicality of building with earth.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re building a mixed team of specialist volunteers. You might be:

A digital fabrication pro: experienced in Grasshopper/Rhino and excited to explore robotic printing
A hands-on technician: confident with electrical or mechanical systems and problem-solving on site
A materials nerd: someone with knowledge in soil mechanics, or geotechnical / civil engineering

No matter which of these suits you best, we’re looking for people with energy and curiosity, who are happy to sieve, mix and get muddy as we process a lot of earth together in between nerding out over the rest! All roles require a minimum two-week commitment. These are volunteer roles, but we are committed to providing a contribution towards accommodation and national travel costs to increase accessibility and support participation from a wide range of people.

How to Apply

To get involved, email us at: hello@earthbuildproject.co.uk

Include:

The role(s) you’re interested in
Your availability and preferred dates + duration
Your CV (and portfolio if relevant)
A short cover note telling us why this speaks to you and highlighting the experience you have that’s relevant to your preferred role\

Join a Cooperative Effort for Climate, Housing and Community

This is more than a summer scheme. It’s a chance to be part of a wider movement – using research, technology and collective care to transform the way we build.

Let’s prove that better homes are possible. Let’s build them, together.

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