Plasters
A plastered wall is never just a surface — it is the skin of a home, alive with texture, colour and character. Clay and lime plasters breathe with the seasons, regulating moisture and purifying the air in ways no synthetic paint or coating ever could. From the simplest smooth finish, warm to the touch and rich in tone, to the intricate artistry of sgraffito — where layers of coloured clay are carved to reveal patterns, images and stories beneath — natural plasters transform walls into something closer to craft than construction. Every room becomes a canvas. Every finish, one of a kind.
Sgraffito is the ancient art of storytelling through plaster. Multiple layers of coloured clay are applied to a wall, then carefully carved away while still fresh — revealing contrasting tones beneath, and with them, patterns, motifs and images of extraordinary detail and beauty. No two pieces are ever the same. Each one is drawn by hand, shaped by the maker, and permanently woven into the fabric of the home. It is not decoration added to a wall — it is the wall itself, transformed into art.
Earthen Floors
There is something instinctive about the feel of earth beneath your feet. Earthen floors bring that connection inside — warm in winter, cool in summer, and naturally regulating the humidity of your home. Free from synthetic materials and harsh chemicals, they create a living surface that is as healthy as it is beautiful. Once you’ve walked on one, you’ll never want anything else.
Earthen Walls
From the rounded curves of cob to the sun-dried precision of adobe, from the woven walls of wattle and daub to the humble strength of earthbags — earthen building is one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring traditions. Each technique is different, yet all share the same philosophy: that the earth beneath our feet holds everything we need to build a home that is healthy, sustainable, and deeply beautiful. At Oval, we carry these ancient methods forward, shaping them with modern understanding to create spaces that feel as natural as the ground they rise from.
Straw Bales
Straw bale walls are among the most thermally efficient you can build — thick, quiet, and naturally insulating. What was once considered a humble agricultural byproduct becomes the backbone of a home that stays warm in winter, cool in summer, and whisper-quiet all year round. A straw bale home doesn’t just perform well — it feels like nowhere else on earth.
Timber Frame
There is a reason timber frame construction has endured for thousands of years — it is honest building at its finest. Exposed wooden joinery, hand-cut and fitted without a single nail, tells the story of how your home was made. The structure itself becomes the architecture, filling your space with warmth, character, and a craftsmanship that modern construction simply cannot replicate. A timber frame home is not just built — it is crafted.
Workshops
Every service we offer, we also teach. At Oval, we believe that natural building is not just a craft to be hired — it is a knowledge to be shared. For those with a project in hand and a desire to open it up to others, we offer hands-on workshops where participants learn by doing, working directly on your build under our guidance. It is one of the most rewarding ways to construct a natural home — surrounded by a community of learners, your walls rise together, and the skills gained stay with everyone long after the work is done.