Design & Envelope Consulting
Concept design, envelope thinking, material strategy, and project direction for resilient homes, community buildings, and owner-led projects.
Integrating old and new.
ION EcoBuilding
Natural, locally sourced, reclaimed, recycled, and least-toxic building for homes, studios, gardens, and community spaces.
Services Design, consulting, and owner advocacy
Specialties Healthy, durable, fire-aware systems
Portfolio Earthen, straw, and mineral projects
Education Building science and materials analysis
A practical council for resilient building decisions.
We use natural, locally sourced, reclaimed, recycled, and other ecological materials. We focus on making sure that everything we work with is the least toxic choice possible.
We believe that these natural materials carry a life, a texture, and a spirit that reinforces a human's connection to place. It is this connection that nourishes the heart and creates that unique feeling of calm, safety, and home.
If you wish, we will build for you. Or if you wish, we will build with you, helping as needed. We specialize in collaborative building processes, facilitating participation through hands-on guidance, workshops, and volunteer work parties.
How the council can help.
Early decisions shape health, durability, budget, and long-term maintenance.
Material Health Reviews
Targeted advice on assemblies, moisture control, mold risk mitigation, chemical sensitivity, and least-toxic material substitutions.
Project-based Education
Workshops, build-process documentation, decision guides, and site-specific learning for owners, building teams, and community partners.
Owner Advocacy & Guidance
Owner representation, institutional-grade planning, durable material analysis, maintenance coordination, and decisions that still make sense decades later.
Solution areas to explain with drawings and photos.
Building Biology & Material Health
- Mold-aware design and moisture remediation strategy
- Chemical sensitivity and least-toxic material selection
Thermal-hygric Mass Walls
- Mass wall systems that manage heat, vapor, and moisture
- Vapor-permeable enclosure strategies
High Performance Enclosures
- Passivhaus-aligned details and enclosure thinking
- Air sealing, thermal bridge reduction, and ventilation coordination
Fire Resilience
- Wildfire-aware assemblies, defensible detailing, and exterior material choices
- Risk reduction without losing sight of moisture and indoor health
Use early interest to shape the next round.
The first version should help identify which project stories, materials, certifications, and workshop formats people ask for most.