Japanese Plastering with Earth & Lime
Japanese Plastering with Earth & Lime – Hands on Workshop
WITH KYLE HOLZHEUTER
Join master plasterer Kyle Holzhueter for a 6-day immersive workshop in traditional Japanese plastering techniques using natural materials like clay and lime. This course blends ancient craftsmanship with modern insights and includes specialty Japanese trowels for each participant which are required for the specific mixes and applications. .
This earth and lime plaster course will cover a range of Japanese mixes and methods including:
- Japanese hawk and trowel application method
- Woven bamboo wattle construction – a traditional Japanese building method
- Base Coat Plaster – Japanese have a traditional using of high fiber clay mixes, carefully aged
- Brown Coat Plaster – this is an all round clay coat that can be used as a base or finish
- Shikkui Lime Clay Plaster – this is a traditional lime-clay finish with high fiber
This course is suitable for both beginners and experts. You will learn everything from the basics, such as how to compose a mix, and applying that mix, and then the more advanced practices, such as Shikkui Lime Clay finishes.
- Dates: This course begins with orientation and dinner Thursday evening and ends Wednesday 5pm, with a dinner and breakfast following morning provided.
- Meals: are included in the workshop price.
- Accommodations: Camping is available but it is a cold time of year with evenings getting below freezing. We have a bunkroom with beds available which is included in the workshop price. We have a few private rooms available for an extra cost.
Workshop Syllabus
- Arrival previous evening, Nov 13, dinner included at 7pm, introductions at 8pm
- Nov 14 – Split bamboo, Mix base coat plaster
- Bamboo lattice, apply base coat plaster over bamboo lattice
- Demonstration, mixing and practice application of brown coat earth plaster
- Apply base coat plasters
- Demonstration, mixing and practice application of the go-around coat
- Mixing and applying the go-around coat
- Canelo Site tour
- Mixing and applying earthen finish plaster
- Mixing and practice application of brown coat earth plaster
- Shikkui lime plaster finish application
Instructor: Kyle Holzhueter, PhD.
Kyle works as a builder, researcher and educator specializing in natural building materials and sustainable systems such light rice husk lime insulation, natural plasters and energy efficiency. He is a graduate of the Kyoto Plastering Institute and the first westerner in Japan to pass the level one Japanese National Plastering Exam. He also has a PhD in Bioresource Sciences from Nihon University where he researched the hygrothermal environment of straw bale walls and building practices to control moisture. In 2017 Kyle founded Permaculture Center Kamimomi, a Permaculture demonstration and education site in Okayama, Japan.
