Mark Hoberecht
Mark Hoberecht is the principal and founder of HarvestBuild Associates, Inc. He holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, and M.S. degrees in Engineering Science and Sustainable Systems. He also has a professional Bau-Biologie certification, and has taken a number of courses in Architectural and Construction Engineering Technology. Mark has worked as a NASA engineer for over 25 years, with most of that time spent developing fuel cell systems for space vehicles. His true passion, however, is natural building. As a chemical engineer, he has been able to develop an in-depth understanding of building science concepts as applied to natural building systems. He has successfully made the transition from "rocket scientist" to "natural building scientist."
Mark became involved with the natural building movement in 1995 while attending Slippery Rock University as part of the Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems (MS3) program. There he researched vernacular building methods extensively for his thesis project. He also organized and hosted a straw/clay building workshop, and shortly thereafter attended the first of many natural building colloquia. He began construction of the Hoberecht Cottage in 1996, and has been involved in a growing number of natural building projects since.
Mark has worked alongside a number of natural builders at various events, including straw-bale proponents Matts Myhrman, David Eisenberg, Catherine Wanek, Athena and Bill Steen, Paul Lacinski, Frank Meyer, and Chris Magwood; cob builders Ianto Evans, Linda Smiley, Michael Smith, and Becky Bee; timber framer and straw/clay builder Robert Laporte; German clay builder Frank Andresen; Irish stonemason Patrick McAfee; Danish thatcher Flemming Abrahamsson; slate roofer Joe Jenkins; and earth plasterers Carole Crews and Cedar Rose Guelberth. These pioneers have been a true source of inspiration.
Mark understands the science of green building, and is able to apply the appropriate building science concepts to natural building systems. He teaches an annual natural building workshop for the Cleveland Green Building Coalition, and other workshops upon request. His work has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles, as well as on local radio and television stations. He has also been an invited speaker at several conferences, and a guest lecturer on numerous occasions.