Construction Research

Grey Chalk Project

Manifest are delighted to be working closely with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in our ongoing collaboration on research into “grey” chalks and other feebly hydraulic limes.  Hydraulic limes have the property of being able to set under water, and while less flexible and breathable than pure (“air”) limes, there are several uses in traditional and natural building for which they are the ideal material.  Although the island of Britain is blessed with a huge variety of limestones, none of these are used commercially to produce any kind of hydraulic lime: particularly conspicuous by its absence is the so-called feebly hydraulic, which as its name suggests fills an important niche where a requirement for stronger set meets that for maximum breathability.

Our research has taken us to a range of working quarries across England and Wales, searching for the best local stones (and individual beds within quarry faces) for suitable limes.  Different test and field kilns burn (calcine) the stone, where we have also conducted research into traditional slaking techniques to produce putties, hot mixes and dry hydrates.

Insulated Cob

Cob – a mixture of earth and straw built in a monolithic structure – is something of a wonder material: it is easily obtainable, eminently instinctive to build with, non-toxic, beautiful and essentially zero-embodied carbon.  While it performs well in storing heat and providing a stable internal climate, its ability to insulate against heat loss is perhaps its one downside.  Manifest are working on a range of construction methods by which a fully natural and breathable set-up can provide cob construction with all the requirements of the modern Building Regulations, while losing none of its native beauty and charm.  Work includes experiments with straw clay, earth renders and lime-stabilised soil construction.

Reciprocal Frames

There is wonder in a reciprocal frame, where no one element spans the full distance, yet each support the next, which supports the next in turn, passing the forces around in a never-ending circle.  Manifest push the possibilities of these beautiful structures, with innovative connection details and new “herringbone” and “flower” structures, breathing life into these ancient forms.

Lectures & Publications

Publications

Manifest publish regularly by invitation to a variety of professional journals.  We are also proud to present our own book, The Architecture of the Poetic Universe, published by the Onslaught Press, which develops the themes of sustainability, craft and theology for architecture.

Lectures

We are often invited to give lectures and talks, and have presented on behalf of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and a range of local history societies and community groups.  We have also made several presentations on the care of historic churches for churchwardens, and always appreciate the level of curiosity, enquiry and debate that these events encourage.

Crafting Skills

We offer education services in traditional crafts and the context of ancient woodland.  We are delighted to be associated with the Fathom Trust in Wales, most recently acting as crafters for their Making Well course, teaching participants in the construction of a cob pizza oven and associated carpentry.  You can find more about our projects with them here.

Woodland Education

Would you like to learn more about woodland management, sustainable coppicing, and the uses for greenwood?  Or are you interested in wild foraging, wayfinding, sundials and star-gazing?  Get in touch with us to discuss how we might share our skills.