Back to Basics: 7 Homes Built With Rammed Earth

Table Of Content

• Future of Rammed Earth Construction
• Toy Storey House by wallmakers
• A design-build team demonstrates the durability of an ancient material.
• The Earth House / Art and Architecture Associates
• Rammed Earth Construction Guide
• South Africa marks ‘Freedom Day,’ 30 years since apartheid ended, amid discontent with the ANC
• Identification of erosion resistance of local rammed soil

But by keeping the design and formwork simple, Terrell was able to use the method for an affordable housing project (above) spec’d for Passive House standards. Examples dating to the 13th century are the Hakka Tulou—a series of five-story round apartment buildings in China—and the Alhambra Palace in Spain. If the environmental creds of earthen buildings aren’t convincing enough, they’re also incredibly beautiful. Dethier’s book has “art” in the title, after all, and he hopes that it can help “seduce” general readers into becoming advocates for this building technique. And then we need 30 masons, so there’s going to be a masons training program.

Future of Rammed Earth Construction

Since rammed earth hardens as it dries, the forms may be removed as soon as they’re full. Pull out the bolts that hold the form in place and fill the holes which are left. This is easily done by bending a piece of tin into a “V”, holding the guide against one of the openings in the wall, filling the chute with dirt and pushing the soil into the hole with a bolt. I laid our foundation in 8-foot sections, each dovetailed into the next and connected to it with reinforcing rods. The forms were 12 inches wide at the top tapering to 8 inches in the middle, then out again to 12 inches at the bottom (see Fig. 1).

Toy Storey House by wallmakers

In 2000, Earth Day began taking aim at climate change, a problem that has grown rapidly more urgent in recent years. If we don’t start accepting imperfect clean energy solutions, the consequences could be catastrophic. The overwhelming public response to the first Earth Day is credited with adding pressure for the U.S. Congress to do more to address pollution, and it did, passing landmark legislation including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

A design-build team demonstrates the durability of an ancient material.

The thermal mass slows the movement of heat through the walls, then releases the heat when the surrounding temperature drops (at night). Thermal mass structures can even out temperature variations, creating a comfortable internal environment. The process is labour intensive, but is considered to have a low environmental impact depending on materials used (cement content) and source of those materials. While some elements of the rammed earth wall will have a low embodied energy, cementitious products do not. Rammed earth is an ancient form of construction, generally seen in drier hotter parts of the world. Although many rammed earth structures exist in this basic form, a new ‘stabilised’ rammed earth variant has been developed which adds a small amount of cement (5-10%) to the mixture to ensure strength and durability.

When it comes to alternative building methods to construct a home, you have a host of different choices. Some rely on fairly modern materials like poly bags or used tires (considered new guys on the block). It offers a sustainable building solution without compromising on strength, durability, or beauty. For those seeking an eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lasting construction method, rammed earth stands out as a compelling choice. Think back to when you were a kid on summer vacation, building sand castles on the beach. You filled your bucket with sand, tamping it down tightly with your plastic shovel, turned it over and carefully lifted the bucket, revealing a sandy tower in its shape.

Rammed Earth Construction Guide

According to the ancient literature and a large amount of archaeological data, the formula of the rammed earth of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan does contain ingredients such as glutinous rice paste and lime. However, after a long time of weathering, chemical action and decomposition, not much of the original ingredients such as glutinous rice paste and lime are left. Through calcium carbonate content testing experiments, it was found that the calcium carbonate content at different depths was very low. Therefore, it can be concluded that biological soil crusts are the dominant factor inducing localized erosion resistance rather than calcium carbonate deposition effects.

This is necessary if a surface texture is to be applied, e.g., by wire brushing, carving, or mold impression, because the walls become too hard to work after approximately one hour. The compressive strength of rammed earth increases as it cures. Cement-stabilised rammed earth is cured for a minimum period of 28 days. As with all types of construction, there are both pros and cons to rammed earth walls and houses. Knowing these positives and negatives is key for making a rounded decision on whether or not they’re a good fit for your needs.

Arquipélago Arquitetos designed the flat-roofed residence to stand out on its site at the top of a gently sloping property next to a large tree that offers shade. The reddish earthen tone contrasts with verdant surroundings, but depending on the season and position of the sun, the home appears to be integrated with the landscape. Flat House, a Material Cultures three-bedroom house situated at Margent Farm, a rural R&D facility that develops bioplastics made with hemp and flax.

Identification of erosion resistance of local rammed soil

In this article, we'll delve into the construction technique of rammed earth structures. We'll also discuss the perceived environmental benefits as well as the challenges of using rammed earth over conventional wall materials. According to historical records, glutinous rice pulp and lime were added to some sections of the Great Wall of Shanhaiguan during the construction period. In this way, the mechanical strength of the rammed earth Great Wall was increased, coupled with the protection of the outer brick to improve the overall performance of the Great Wall. By adding iodine to the rammed earth aqueous solution, it is determined whether glutinous rice pulp was incorporated.

After this small layer is added, it is compressed into around half its original volume using a pneumatic tamper. This process is repeated iteratively until the frame is filled with compacted earth, allowing the wood to be removed and a free-standing rammed earth wall to remain. "We originally proposed using concrete for the walls because we like the plain style and directness," the owners say. Professional rammed earth builders use machines that are hooked up to air compressors. When you first start ramming dirt, it makes a dull sound, but when it's adequately tamped, it will change to a ringing sound.

The compressive strength of rammed earth is dictated by factors such as soil type, particle size distribution, amount of compaction, moisture content of the mix and type/amount of stabiliser used. Well-produced cement-stabilised rammed earth walls can be anywhere between 5 and 20 MPa (700 and 3,000 psi). But addition of more cement can affect the permeability of the walls. Indeed, properly constructed rammed earth endures for thousands of years, as many ancient structures that are still standing around the world demonstrate. Rammed earth walls are reinforced with rebars in areas of high seismic activity. Reducing the building industry’s reliance on carbon-intensive construction materials is an important step for fighting climate change.

When a wall has more than one panel, a recess is added to one end of the first panel, and the second panel is molded into that space, locking them together. Walls are rammed in place, and conduits for pipes and wires are added during the process. As with concrete pours, it’s important to know where conduit and windows are going because they can’t be moved once the wall is up.

Half of A House Pavilion / i/thee + RAWstudio - ArchDaily

Half of A House Pavilion / i/thee + RAWstudio.

Posted: Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Rammed earth buildings are environmentally-friendly and water, fire, and termite resistant. Some modern-day designers also say that the thick earthen walls create a sense of solidity and security. With the proper know-how, readily available earth, sand, chalk, lime, or gravel can yield a versatile, strong, and durable construction material. Its colorful results vary from region to region, depending on the natural soil component, climate, and treatment. While some prefer to minimize any added processing, others relish the exploration of rammed earth surfaces. Different textures and mesmerizing layers of multitoned or multicolored earth can be used to create a solid surface that enriches the visual quality of a space and carries a sense of warmth to any project.