Bringing the Clay House Back to Life

Another interesting project I have been working on here is the old clay house. It is a very old building with a wooden structure and walls made from clay. The house has been somewhat abandoned over time, so now we are helping to restore it so that it can eventually be lived in again.

The windows have recently been replaced, which means that the areas around them need to be repaired and finished with clay. Instead of using new material, we can reuse the clay that has fallen off the walls over the years.

First, we break up the dried clay with shovels. Then we add water and mix and stomp it until it has the right consistency. Once the clay is workable, we use our hands to apply it to the walls and around the windows.

There are also a few things you have to pay attention to when working with clay. For example, new clay does not stick well to glue or smooth surfaces. It works much better on old clay or wood. Before applying the new material, the surface needs to be moistened and sometimes roughened up a little so that the new clay can properly bond with it.

I find it really interesting to work with a building like this and learn how an old house was constructed. It is very different from modern construction, where many materials and processes are hidden behind finished surfaces. Here, you can actually see and feel how the building works.

Most of all, I enjoy the feeling of bringing something back to life. Instead of simply replacing the old house with something new, we are using traditional materials and techniques to give it another chance to be lived in. Knowing that our work will help make the house usable again makes the sometimes messy and physically demanding work feel especially meaningful.

Sarah