Architecture, Art, Design, and Culture using of mud, clay, soil, dirt & dust.
Bricks made with wool. (Credit: Galán-Marín et al.)
Spanish and Scottish researchers have added wool fibres to the clay material used to make bricks and combined these with an alginate, a natural polymer extracted from seaweed. The result is bricks that are stronger and more environmentally-friendly, according to the study published recently in the journal Construction and Building Materials.
Dr. Paul Jaquin at www.historicrammedearth.co.uk has revamped and improved his website. Visit the Historic Rammed Earth website for lots of information about the science of rammed earth and earth buildings, and studies of rammed earth in Nepal, Morocco, Spain and India.
The architectural project of the Citizens’ Initiative Pavilion building is the work of the architect Ricardo Higueras for the Zaragoza Expo 2008.
The pavilion building will be based on energy efficiency, recycling and sustainability. Both the building’s shape and its use are based on the traditional ceramic pitcher. The materials used are natural and come straight from the earth: straw, wood, and clay. Prefabricated clay-plastered panels were attached to a super-structure to enclose the pavillion. More photos in the photo gallery. [ Previously ]
In Spain, traditional palomares, or dove-cotes, constructed of mud brick or rammed earth dot the landscape. To see them, you can take La Ruta de los Palomares or any of several other routes. Some are falling into disrepair and others are being restored. Inside are fascinating spaces that house doves. More can be read about these fascinating structures here: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 ].
See more images [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 ]
The Citizens’ Initiative Pavilion, known as El Faro, is the work of architect Ricardo Higueras. Designed to be constructed for the Expo Zaragoza 2008 the pavilion is to represent society’s vigour and ability to innovate in the face of the challenges posed by water.
The section gives information on the Pavilion’s onsite location, its spaces and building features. Inspired by traditional ceramics, the pavillion will be constructed with natural materials like bamboo and mud mixed with straw.
Via google video, videographer Paul Jaquin has ammassed a collection of videos of rammed earth in spain. Read synopsis and watch the videos by clicking below:
Rammed earth at Lorca castle, a tour of the outside of the building, and a view across the valley.
Rammed earth wall at Palma del Rio in southern Spain. Constructed around 1171, and probably 6m high.
Conclusive proof that some rammed earth is absolutely fine in the rain. Here a castle at Alcala de Guadaira is observed in the middle of a rainstrorm with no detrimental effect to the fabric of the wall.
A video tour of Banos de la Encina castle, built in 967 from rammed earth.
Rammed earth wall at Novelda in southern Spain. This is a view inside a hole in the wall, proving that rammed earth can provide some arching or tensile action. Novelda castle was built around 1171 duringthe Almohad dynasty in Spain.
A tour of the inside of Villena castle in southern Spain. Constructed in rammed earth in 1172, it is a very well preserved rammed earth castle.
Rammed earth wall in Cordoba.
In the essay “The Renaissance of Rammed Earth” which was published in AMC Aspects magazine, January 2001, it is discussed that “Antonio Gaudi and Frank Lloyd Wright appreciated rammed earth. Gaudi showed great interest for the popular architecture. In 1884 he used rammed earth (called “tapial” in Spain) for the construction of the pavilions at the entrance to the farm of Eusebio Guell. Frank Lloyd Wright suggests rammed earth for the construction of buildings in his project for Broadacre City.”
