At Home

I live in Victoria and design, build and teach "houses that love you back" . My background is in architecture with a degree received in Germany. After independently working on home designs in the Comox Valley since moving to Canada, I became involved with natural building in 1994. Since then I have worked both independently as well as with the Cob Cottage Company, the Down to earth building bee and Cobworks. Currently I am also coordinating  the "Natural Building Skillbuilder" at O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE, Shawnigan Lake.

In my free time I enjoy being with friends and family, photography,  travel, and singing in the Getting higher choir.

Global Community Work

I have been fortunate to have been asked to work on a school project in South India  for Buddha Smiles, a local NGO. While there I also had the opportunity to present in Cochi, Kerala for Design and People. I am open to other possibilities to travel and work. Most grassroots organisations lack funding and I am raising the funds to enable me to volunteer  on housing projects for HIV/AIDS orphans in India and Africa. The cobhouse tours are part of that effort. Other fundraising opportunities could be created by you as a member of the global community: host a fundraising dinner, presentation, or concert. Your support is important and I'll be happy to assist as best I can. Please write to me to discuss your ideas. You can make donations right here:

Further information on the projects will be coming soon. Thank you for your support.

 Elke in India