On the drawing board: The Fast Slow project

This project team is harnessing the benefits of prefabrication, natural materials and DIY building to make sustainable homes more accessible to everyone.

The Fast Slow project began with a question that was both practical and philosophical: How can we make sustainable housing more accessible, while also nurturing wellbeing and community? As architects, academics, builders and artists, the Fast Slow team have long been fascinated by the intersection of design, sustainability, and social equity. But it was through working with earth, its texture, its timelessness, its grounding presence, that the deeper layers of this project were realised.

Developed in collaboration with Mudtec, a leader in earth construction, and the University of Newcastle, the Fast Slow project is a research-driven initiative that combines a prefabricated eco-ply building structure with earth infill options. The goal is to create a modular, DIY-friendly building kit that allows people to construct their own homes using locally sourced, low-carbon materials.

This year marks a major milestone: we’re building the first full-scale Fast Slow house at Narara Ecovillage, a community on the New South Wales Central Coast that’s known for its commitment to regenerative living. The house will serve as a prototype and demonstration of the benefits of the system.

While it’s ideal for new build homes like this one, the building system will also be developed for use in retrofits and infill development: a critical need, particularly in cities where space is limited and housing upgrades are urgently needed.

Fast and slow: A philosophy of building
The name ‘Fast Slow’ reflects the dual nature of the system. The ‘fast’ refers to the speed and simplicity of the prefabricated eco-ply frame, which can be assembled quickly with minimal tools and no specialist skills. The ‘slow’ speaks to something deeper: the benefits of working with earth, of slowing down, engaging with tactile materials, building with care and living with intention.

Earth building is inherently slow; it invites mindfulness, collaboration, and connection to place. It’s a process that fosters mental wellbeing, physical engagement, and a sense of achievement. In a world that often prioritises speed and efficiency, the Fast Slow project offers a counterpoint: a way to build that is both practical and profoundly human.

The Fast Slow approach is designed to empower everyday people – DIYers, owner-builders, community groups – to take part in the creation of their own homes. By simplifying the construction process and using affordable, sustainable materials, we aim to lower the barriers that often prevent people from accessing healthy, climate-resilient housing.

Key objectives include:
– Making earth building accessible for new builds, retrofits and infill developments.
– Promoting wellbeing through hands-on, collaborative construction processes.
– Supporting climate adaptation by using breathable, thermally stable materials.
– Encouraging eco-social equity by enabling more people to participate in sustainable housing solutions.

These goals are explored further in a book chapter co-authored by myself and a diverse group including academics, activists, an architect, an artist, a master builder and philosophers. Recently published in Volume 2 of The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, the chapter examines the ecological, social and political implications of the Fast Slow project, including how prefabricated earth building systems can challenge dominant housing paradigms, decentralise construction, empower owner-builders, and foster community resilience.

Prefabrication & earth building
Material choice is central to the Fast Slow philosophy. The structural frame is made from eco-ply, a sustainably sourced plywood that’s strong, lightweight, and ideal for CNC (computer numerical control) prefabrication. It’s a material that supports precision, modularity, and ease of transport – perfect for DIY assembly.

The infill is where the ‘slow’ magic happens. We’ve designed the system to accept a range of earth-based materials, depending on local availability and climate conditions. These include:
– Light earth: straw mixed with clay slip, offering insulation and ease of handling.
– Hempcrete or hemp clay: a blend of hemp hurds and lime or clay, providing insulation and carbon sequestration.
– Cob: a traditional mix of clay, sand and straw, ideal for sculptural forms and thermal mass.
– Rammed earth: unstabilised rammed earth (with reduced or no cement) can be used as the structural frame takes the load.

Earth is breathable, highly fire-resistant, and endlessly recyclable. It connects the home to its landscape and offers a sensory richness that industrial materials often lack. Importantly, it can usually be locally sourced at relatively low cost, making it a powerful tool for climate and social justice.

The prefabricated eco-ply panels are designed to be assembled like a puzzle: no heavy machinery, no specialist labour. This modular system allows for:
– Scalability: from tiny homes to multi-room dwellings.
– Transportability: panels can be flat-packed and shipped to remote or urban sites.
– Customisation: layouts can be adapted to suit different sites, climates, and lifestyles.

By separating the structural frame from the infill, we allow for flexibility, experimentation, and regional adaptation.

The Narara Fast Slow house
After extensive prototyping and testing at the University of Newcastle, the construction of our first Fast Slow home is well underway. The design is guided by passive solar principles, natural ventilation, and material honesty. The 60-square-metre, two-bedroom home includes:
– North-facing living spaces with large openings for winter sun.
– Deep eaves and shading devices to prevent summer overheating.
– Paths for cross ventilation to promote airflow.
– Earth walls for thermal mass and acoustic comfort.

The aesthetic is raw, warm and tactile, celebrating the textures of earth and timber. It’s a house that feels alive, breathing with the seasons and grounded in its environment.

It is also designed for disassembly and reuse. The earth infill can return to the ground and the eco-ply frame can be taken apart and reassembled. This cradle-to-cradle thinking ensures that the home has a light footprint and a long, adaptable lifespan.

The build is a collaborative effort, involving Mudtec, university researchers, and community members. We’re testing different infill techniques, refining the assembly process, and documenting every step. The house will serve as a living laboratory, showcasing how modular earth building can be practical, beautiful, and deeply sustainable. The first Fast Slow house will initially be used for short stays, and eventually lived in by the clients Marga and Anders Toren.

The Fast Slow future
The Fast Slow project is more than a building system – it’s a movement. It invites us to rethink how we build, who gets to build, and what materials we use. It shows that sustainable housing can be fast to assemble, slow to impact, and rich in benefits.

Looking ahead, we’re preparing to:
– Code mark the Fast Slow system, to make compliance and certification of natural building easier.
– Launch a pilot program for DIY builders, offering kits and support for new builds, retrofits and infill projects.
– Publish open-source manuals and videos, making the system accessible to anyone, anywhere.
– Host workshops and community building days, where people can learn, build and connect.
– Develop wellbeing programs to follow during the process of designing and building your own home.
– Advocate for regulatory change to make earth building easier to approve and certify.
– Partner with councils, housing cooperatives and community organisations to scale up the system and bring Fast Slow homes to more people.

The ethos of Fast Slow is that you don’t need to be an architect or a builder to create a sustainable home. With the right tools, materials and community support, many people can participate in the making of their own shelters.

Whether you’re dreaming of a Tiny House, a backyard studio, a retrofit for your existing house, or a new home, the ethos behind Fast Slow – modularity, earth materials, and DIY empowerment – can be adapted to suit your needs.

We hope our journey inspires you to start your own. To build slowly, thoughtfully, and with the earth beneath your feet.