In Progress: Durga's Den Earthen Bathroom Rehabilitation - Jamaica

This outdoor bathroom and shower at Durga’s Den in Ocho Rios, St. Ann’s, Jamaica is a charming, eco-friendly clay structure designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

The rehabilitation of the composting toilet (CT) and outdoor shower began through the Bittersweet Program in Jamaica, with the PDC Program Natural Building Module. During this phase, students applied a thick earthen plaster made from clay, sand, and natural fibers (coco coir) to level and smooth the existing primary walls in preparation for a final lime plaster finish.

Continued visits to the site allowed for work to be carried out through volunteer open days at Durga’s Den, where participants cobbed, plastered, and painted the structure (concrete bathroom walls and wooden door frames) using natural paints made from clay, lime, cactus, sand, and linseed oil.

Additional cob was applied to exposed wood framing (interior and exterior) used to define and map the structure. This was done to preserve the integrity of the beams after noticeable insect damage. By covering all exposed wood, the cob both protected the timbers and helped deter further insect activity. This intervention also created a continuous flow of earth throughout the structure, transforming the aesthetic and giving the building a more cohesive, grounded feel.

A lime plaster finish was applied using sand and lime, with red clay (harvested off the highway) used as a natural pigment to add warmth and character. To improve privacy, an additional wall was constructed using traditional wattle-and-daub techniques, infilled with cob and finished with lime plaster.

During continued construction in October 2025, Hurricane Melissa caused water damage to an exposed wall that had not yet received lime plaster. This compromised the integrity of earlier cob work done by previous builders. The necessary repairs became an opportunity for creative renewal, and stonework was introduced to fill the damaged area. This intervention formed a new window opening, allowing natural light and views to interact with the space and adding both beauty and resilience to the structure.

Where flooring repairs were needed, cob was used to compact and create an even, durable surface. Eventually an earthen floor made of cob and collected river stones will be installed.

The completed space is sustainable, durable, and deeply connected to nature—resulting in a functional, beautiful, and environmentally conscious outdoor bathroom that reflects the principles of natural building and sustainable living.