mud hut schools

At first reading this idea (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2160313.html) of building a mud hut school seemed like a really good one to me.

Pupils would be able to learn about sustainable development, the building would be one that would not cause damage to the environment and would be eco-friendly. What a wonderful idea.

Reading the article again I have started to have second thoughts; perhaps less resources would be used than in conventional building but these resources are going to be of limited availability in the local area (Cornwall in this case).

If this form of building becomes more popular (unlikely in my opinion) or even mainstream (even more unlikely) then the local resources will soon be severely challenged and will result in damage to local environments and habitats. Assuming demand for this type of building continues then materials are going to have to be brought in from elsewhere in the country or even in the world .

I am all for sustainable building which does not damage the local environment but this project does not seem to have been thought through as comprehensively as perhaps it should have been.