our story

it began with
an idea:
Build the most sustainable home, ever.

For years, physicist Sylvia Cook exhaustively researched how to build the most sustainable home possible. She saw the importance of building a home that would maximize energy efficiency, provide a comfortable, healthy, living environment, and, of course, be beautiful enough to feel like home. Her elegant solution: rammed earth.

Together Sylvia and her son, Graham Cavalier, also an environmentalist at heart and an experienced builder, took a deep dive into rammed earth and sustainable building science.

In 2009, Sylvia and Graham, along with a small crew of eager builders, unveiled the first stabilized, insulated rammed earth wall in Ontario, the first rammed earth wall of Sylvia’s home.

Today, Sylvia cannot possibly imagine living without the luxurious comfort of a rammed earth home.

Aerecura today: combating climate change

After building her home, Sylvia and Graham set to work building a new company, Aerecura. Its mission: to combat climate change through knowledge about, and construction of, rammed earth. Aerecura aims to empower those within the home building industry and homeowners alike to be part of the solution to the climate change crisis.

Climate change is the number one challenge today, demanding immediate attention in all aspects of our lives, especially when it comes to how we choose to build. Buildings account for as much as 40% of the world's energy consumption, and are responsible for up to 30% percent of the annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Building intelligently and sustainably is a pivotal part of our collective ability to build a greener future, and a powerful motivation for Aerecura now, and always.

As a woman-owned company, Aerecura emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity, a unique approach within an industry with so few women at the helm. Sylvia’s leadership defines the dynamic approach Aerecura brings to each project. This team based approach leads to fulfilling and successful projects for both Aerecura’s talented craftspeople and their clients.

Opening the door to a brighter future

Aerecura's vision for the future is that rammed earth becomes a common feature amongst Ontario’s built landscape.

Aerecura will continue to strive for change by encouraging a shift in perspective within the construction industry to a more sustainable, inclusive mindset.

Aerecura is a company built on a strong familial foundation. Rammed earth is a generational building material, one that will last Sylvia’s grandchildrens’ grandchildren, and beyond.

Watch our 3 part interview series, Foundations, with Sylvia Cook and Graham Cavalier to learn more about Aerecura and its roots.