The fable of the Three Little Pigs highlights negative perceptions about natural construction materials, according to James Drinkwater, head of Built Environment at philanthropic climate organisation the Laudes Foundation.
Speaking about the need to increase the use of timber and other biomaterials in construction, Drinkwater said that the well-known children's story presented natural materials such as straw and wood as "terrible".
"There's a classic story in England called the Three Little Pigs," Drinkwater said during a talk hosted by Dezeen. "The first [pig] made its house of straw and that natural material was terrible."
"There's a need to change perceptions to show what's possible, and to amplify those narratives." People view natural construction materials as weak
The Three Little Pigs story refers to a fable that dates back to the 1800s, which tells the tale of three pigs who build houses out of straw, sticks and bricks respectively. While the Big Bad Wolf blows down the two pigs' houses made of natural materials and eats their occupants, the brick house prevails and the third pig is saved.
Drinkwater referred to the fable in order to highlight how people often view natural construction materials as weak during his discussion of a new network called Built by Nature, when in fact building with natural materials could significantly reduce climate change, according to Drinkwater.
James Drinkwater is head of Built Environment at th...