EARTH
Earth can be used as a building material so long as it is packed tight, or ‘rammed’.
It can also be stabilised by adding a small amount of cement.
Adobe
building,
Mexico
What's good & bad
EARTH HAS VERY GOOD THERMAL PROPERTIES, LIKE BRICK AND CONCRETE, AND SO CAN BE USED TO STORE HEAT FROM THE SUN
EARTH OR RAMMED EARTH IS BEST USED WHERE IT IS FOUND LOCALLY – IF IT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A BUILDING SITE IT IS FAR LESS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Carbon indicator
ZERO CO2
LOTS OF CO2
Interesting information
Additives can be made to ‘raw’ earth such as straw or sticks to help make it more stable. Water can then be added and the mixture baked dry in the sun.
Adobe is a material, often found in the Middle East and North Africa that is made in this way.
In Britain we can make a similar material called Cob
Did you know?
When building with earth it is normal to build the roof first. The earth walls can then be protected and kept dry by the roof as they are built.
Fascinating facts
GO TO
LIVING ROOF