Next Genesis Design

John Finlay James Hutton

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Our Mission

Our mission is to create ecologically focused building solutions that surpass conventional construction. We specialize in designing, permitting, and constructing buildings with bio-composite materials like hempcrete, straw bale, light straw clay, and compacted earth. Prioritizing clear communication, quality materials, and expert craftsmanship, we deliver buildings that are beautiful, functional, energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, non-toxic, and highly resistant to fire, mold, and pests. Committed to addressing major environmental challenges, we aim to develop sustainable, high-quality building systems that foster healthier living spaces and a deeper connection to our planet.

Why Bio-Composite Materials?

We design and develop building systems using natural materials wherever practically possible. These materials are inherently beautiful, more healthy for the occupants, and more sustainable than any of the highly processed petrochemical based materials that are standard in conventional construction. Nature provides the best solutions so we seek to align our practice with the myriad of gifts it has to offer.

We take a multi-faceted and detailed approach to optimizing our designs for excellent energy performance. Not only do we create building envelopes with superior thermal resistance than prescriptive code standards, we also emphasize the use of passive solar design principles, thermal mass, appropriate glazing strategies, and details that eliminate thermal bridging wherever possible. This results in buildings that perform far better than the standard and utility bills that reduce long duration costs.

We implement solutions to design problems that are practical and realistically achievable within the project budget and timeline. We emphasize the elegance of simplicity wherever possible, focusing on achieving the project goals while avoiding excessive cost. We have a long term view and create buildings that are functional, durable, efficient, and will serve occupant needs immediately and well into the future.

We execute projects with a wide range of aesthetic goals and work diligently with each individual owner to craft a design that appeals to their stylistic sensibility. From utilitarian agricultural out buildings, to custom built homes, to community gathering spaces where achieving a particular look drives the design, we always strive to create spaces that uplift the spirits of the people who inhabit them and will identify opportunities to bring balance, harmony, and beauty into any of the spaces we design.

Our wall systems are extremely fire resistant, if not completely fire proof. Unlike conventional building materials the natural materials we use do not require toxic flame retardants to mitigate combustion but are inherently fireproof. Clay and lime are common materials in our wall assembly, neither of which are combustible. We also design specific details that reduce the risk of ignition at any weak points in the building envelope. From patterns to details we mitigate the risk of disaster wherever possible.

The vast majority of insect and rodent infestations in buildings occur in the wall cavity and if unmitigated they can travel up the walls and into the roof. We primarily build solid walls with no cavity for any pests to reside. Most often clay and/or lime are primary ingredients in our walls, neither of which provide a food source or nest material for any critters. Any cellulose based materials are encapsulated in clay or lime, keeping them protected without the need for any chemical insecticides.

Mold is becoming an increasingly large problem in our built environment that continues to be ignored by conventional construction practices despite the adverse effects on our health. The prevalent use of cheap building materials paired with vapor barriers that inhibit the movement of moisture are the leading causes of this issue.

While vapor barriers are effective at keeping moisture out of a building they also inhibit the ability for materials to dry out, inevitably trapping moisture inside the wall cavity and creating the ideal conditions for mold growth. As moisture is held in the air as ambient humidity and is generated inside a building, both by occupants breathing and perspiring, and in particular by steam generated in kitchens and bathrooms, it needs to be accepted as an integral part of the indoor environment rather than exclusively as something to be kept out. It is very important to mitigate the potential for water to enter a building and in the long run it is equally important to have strategies for buildings to dry out. This is why we prioritize vapor breathable wall construction and opt to use materials with a high hygroscopic capacity (the ability to store and release moisture without degrading.)

Through the use of both active and passive systems our designs minimize the ability for water to enter the building and also allow for water to escape the building without causing any harm. As not all natural materials are appropriate for all climate conditions, especially high humidity conditions, we customize our material choices with the macro-environment in mind. Hemp-lime (also know as Hempcrete) in particular performs well in high humidity climates as lime acts as a desiccant drying out excess moisture and is highly alkaline which inhibits the ability for moisture and bacterial growth.

There are upwards of 80,000 chemicals available on the consumer market today, only about 1% of these chemicals have been tested for safety let alone the cumulative their effects on human or planetary health. Of the chemicals tested many have been shown to have adverse effects on our health and little is being done to mitigate our exposure to them. The manufacturers of many standard building materials are not required to disclose all of the ingredients used in their products and many of them are riddled with toxicity. Formaldehyde based glues found in most particle boards, heavy metals found in most gypsum wall boards, teflon based coatings found in many house wraps, VOC's found in paints, and insecticides, fungicides, and chemical fire retardants found in many insulation products are just a few examples of building materials that are inherently unhealthy but are still found in almost all of the buildings we occupy.

We believe that chemical exposure is one of the greatest threats to our health and should be directly addressed. Much of the motivation behind our work is to find solutions to this problem, this is why we have chosen to develop building systems that emphasize the use of non-toxic, natural materials, and we minimize the use of manufactured petrochemicals. While it is practically impossible to eliminate all potentially harmful chemicals in a building we go to great lengths to identify and reduce their use wherever we are able to.

Services

Every construction project comes with a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Using a multifaceted set of tools, skills, connections, and services we are able to adapt our design and construction methodology to guide a large variety of projects to the optimal completion. To achieve the best possible outcome we work in close collaboration with talented groups of engineers and builders, and will tailor the design and build teams to meet the specific needs of the client and the project.

Architectural Design

From conceptual design to fully engineered, stamped, and permitted construction documents we guide clients through a comprehensive process of refining ideas into finished plans ready for construction.

Site Planning

Using both conventional wisdom and permaculture design principles we generate site plans that focus on how a building integrates into the surrounding landscape and how the landscape supports the needs of its inhabitants.

Project Management

Many of the projects we design utilize innovative building systems that require special attention to detail. For these projects we provide on-site management to ensure the finished product aligns with the plans and an excellent quality of construction is achieved.

Education / Consultation

From school groups to owner builders to licensed contractors we love teaching people of all skill levels how to build in a better way. We are available for one on one consultations and group workshops to teach others about the design and installation of innovative building systems using bio-composite building materials.