Author: admin

Posted on

Vote For Earth

Abari has entered the Dell Social Innovation Competition, which operates like a business-plan competition, awarding seed funding directly to the student-led venture that best meets the judges’ criteria. Vote for their project, which seeks establish a center to design and build/prefabricate houses, schools, toilets, furniture etc. out of bamboo and earth. The center will promote traditional (and dying) construction skills by mobilizing community members and appropriating locally available materials like bamboo and earth to build modern ecological, economical and beautiful infrastructure for individuals or communities.

Registration is easy and takes 20 seconds. Vote!

Posted on

X Seminario Iberoamericano de Arquitectura y Construcción con Tierra

X Seminario Iberoamericano de Arquitectura y Construcción con Tierra Salto (Uruguay) del 8 al 13 de noviembre de 2010. Tematicas del seminario: Diseño contemporáneo de las arquitecturas de tierra, innovaciones en los componentes constructivos, capacitación y transferencia de las tecnologías y arquitectura de tierra en el contexto del desarrollo sostenible. Auquellos interesados en presentar un trabajo pueden enviar un resumen extendido del articulo de ponencia y/o el resumen de un póster gráfico, hasta el día 14 de mayo de 2010. Todos los resúmenes serán evaluados por la Comisión Científica. Más información del programa, cronograma, actividades e instructivos para la presentación de ponencias en www.siacoturuguay.blogspot.com

Organizan: Universidad de la República (UDELAR) – Regional Norte, Sede Salto (UDELAR)
Auspicia: PROTERRA
Apoyo institucional: Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN – Argentina)
Adhieren: Centro Universitario de la Regional Este (CURE – UDELAR) – Fronterra – Celebratierra – Embajada de México en Uruguay – Intendencia de la Ciudad de Salto

Posted on

Radiolara Pavilion

In a small shed on an industrial park near Pisa is a machine that can print buildings. The machine itself looks like a prototype for the automotive industry. Four columns independently support a frame with a single armature on it. Driven by CAD software installed on a dust-covered computer terminal, the armature moves just millimetres above a pile of sand, expressing a magnesium-based solution from hundreds of nozzles on its lower side. It makes four passes. The layer dries and Enrico Dini recalibrates the armature frame. The system deposits the sand and then inorganic binding ink. The exercise is repeated. The millennia-long process of laying down sedimentary rock is accelerated into a day. A building emerges.

The new material (inorganic binder + sand or mineral dust) has been subjected to traction, compression and bending tests. The results have been extraordinary and the artificial sandstone features excellent resistance properties. Effectively this process returns any type of sand or mineral dust back to its original compact stone state.

The binder transforms any kind of sand or marble dust into a stone-like material (i.e. a mineral with microcrystalline characteristics) with a resistance and traction superior to portland cement, to a point where there is no need to use iron to reinforce the structure. This artificial stone is chemically one hundred percent environmentally friendly.

The process is four times faster than conventional building, costs a third to a half as much as using Portland cement, creates little waste and is better for the environment. But its chief selling point may simply be that it makes creating Gaudiesque, curvy structures simple.

Read more at [ Blueprint Magazine | Dezeen | Previously ]

Posted on

Musgum Architecture

The Musgum, an ethnic group in far north province in Cameroon, create their tall conical dwellings from compressed sun-dried mud. Called Cases Obos, the profile of the structure is that of a catenary arch— the ideal mathematical form to bear a maximum weight ?with minimal material.

The relief pattern on the surface is a built-in scaffolding that can support the body to allow for maintenance of the structure by the re-application of mud to the surface.

Read more at Designboom.com

Posted on

research.terra

research.terra is a multi-language website intended to serve as a tool for the community of both researchers and others interested in the subject of earth construction. It will allow one to follow the research work that has been, or is being carried out, all over the world. The main goal is to create a database that will be updated regularly, containing some basic information regarding the research, such as the title and the direct link for the work (if available online).

Posted on

The Mud Tub

The Mud Tub, by Tom Gerhardt, is an experimental organic interface that allows people to control a computer while playing in the mud. By sloshing, squishing, pulling, punching, etc, in a tub of mud (yes, wet dirt), users control games, simulators, and expressive tools; interacting with a computer in a new, completely organic, way. Born out of a motivation to close the gap between our bodies and the digital world, the Mud Tub frees the traditional computer interaction model of it’s rigidity, allowing humans to use their highly developed sense of touch, and creative thinking skills in a more natural way.

Could building architecture with mud coincide control 3D printers producing earth buildings while being powered by the mud itself?

Here, Matt Parker’s Lumarca and Tom Gerhardt’s Mud Tub join forces to make some cool interactions happen.

Posted on

Watertower Skyscraper

The conflict over water and land in Sudan has created political unrest for decades. However, in 2007, scientists from Boston University discovered and underground lake in the region of Darfur, Sudan. This lake is tenth biggest lake in the world (31, 000 m2) and would have great potential in resolving the conflict if managed correctly. Addressing this water issue, Polish architect Hugon Kowalski from H3AR Architect and Design recently proposed a building that allows access to underground waters through the application of water pumps. The form of the building was inspired by a water tower and also by the symbol of the African savanna—the baobab. The building houses water pumps, a treatment plant but also a hospital, a school and a food storage center. This building is meant to provoke economical development but also stimulate cultural exchange and the coexistence of the three different religions and languages in Sudan.

The building walls are constructed using compressed dry stacked clay bricks, made on site using a rough mixture of earth, cement and water. The bricks would be baked in the hot sun, thus, requiring no extra energy and limiting the environmental impact of the materials. The choice of using this technology represents the desire to introduce alternative and sustainable technologies within a context that is tied to standardized though not always optimal building practice.

Two water circulation processes would be in place. First set of extracted water is meant to heat or cool the building, and is accessible to the users. Second, set of extracted water is used for the building itself (i.e. kitchen, toilets).

More at designboom.com

Posted on

TerraBrasil 2010 – A Call for Abstracts

The third annual Brazilian Congress on Architecture and Earth Building, also known as TerraBrasil 2010, will take place in the city of Campo Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil from August 31st to the September 3rd, 2010. The Congress is being organized by the Structural and Civil Engineering Department (DEC/CCET) of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, in partnership with the TerraBrasil Network (Rede TerraBrasil).

ABSTRACTS
Abstracts are being accepted and should be emailed to terrabrasil.art@gmail.com , up until March 10th, 2010, according to the abstract format available for download at www.terrabrasil2010.wordpress.com

THEMES
Scientific papers will be accept in any branch of knowledge linked with the theme “Architecture and Construction with Earth”, and will be classified under the following areas:

1. Building Materials and Techniques
Contributions and improvements to the state of art, materials` specification, new techniques development, equipments, standardization for codes and performance – structural, durability, suitability,and comfort.

2. History, Conservation, and Heritage
Reviews, discussion, and contributions on conservation theories, revival techniques, rehabilitations, and new materials` adaptations to the codes.

3. Contemporary Architecture
Discussions on new challenge — productivity, building details, costs, materials` interface, adaptations, and appropriateness.

4. Education, Formation, and Qualification
Discussions and contributions on the practices, experiences and models of technology transference, databases, and curriculum.

5. Sustainability
Holistic approach of sustainability and its multiple dimensions — environmental, social, cultural, economic, and political. Discussions and constributions on the life-cycle analysis, including social and economic, empowerment, community cooperation, and Chagas` disease.

Posted on

ecologik Magazine

The Decembery/January issue of the French language magazine, ecologik, is devoted to the subject of Architecture en Terre.

SOMMAIRE #12 – décembre 2009/janvier 2010

ACTUALITÉ: réalisations – concours – expositions – les forêts, un marché de dupes ? – lumière : perspectives urbaines – livre, de la lutte des classes à la lutte des places
SOCIÉTÉ: la ville durable et connectée
URBANISME ET PAYSAGE: métamorphose d’une autoroute
PROCESSUS ET TECHNIQUES: les nouveaux dilemmes du patrimoine
DOSSIER EN TERRE: sur les traces d’un patrimoine mondial – manifeste pour le droit de construire en terre crue – le CRAterre, l’expérience made in France – retour d’expérience sur le Domaine de la Terre – la physique des grains – terre contemporaine : hôtel Amankora au Bouthan, maison d’habitation en pisé en Colombie, workshop structures en terre au Bangladesh, architecture d’intérieur à Paris, centre culturel du désert Nk’mip au Canada, maison Palmer-Rose aux Etats-Unis, maison Rauch en Autriche, école de Maosi en Chine, école des Arts au Mexique
INNOVATIONS: eaux de pluie, eaux usées : collecter, assainir et valoriser
BÂTIR SAIN: l’air est-il plus respirable dans un bâtiment LEED ou HQE?
SUISSE: passif en plein massif
PROSPECTIVE: accessibilité : et si on osait le pragmatisme ?