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Afghan Earth Works

Afghan Earth Works is a non-profit organization working at a variety of sites around Afghanistan. Their goals are simple. They are to create valued, decently paid jobs; to show how earth, the most readily available material, may be used to create comfortable buildings which their occupants will cherish and that they can repair themselves; and to teach updated construction methods so that the buildings are both durable in Afghanistan’s harsh climate, and safe in the earthquakes which periodically devastate parts of the country.

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Earth Architecture | Mud, Stone & Shale Conference

THE UNIVERSITY OF HADRAMUT FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | MUKALLA & DA‘WAN MUD BRICK ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION Are pleased to announce the Second Conference on Mud Brick Architecture to be held in Hadramut in 2011 under the title: Earth Architecture | Mud, Stone & Shale

The conference will provide a platform to discuss and exchange information amongst international architects, academics, participants and foundations on the condition of past and future cities with innovative and creative projects in construction and design including a wide spectrum from Chile to India. This intends to create an important link and exchange between North and South, east and west, where the technology architectural language and environment of earth architecture requires to be more seriously and effectively implemented. The fact that it is being held in the heart of the kingdom of mud brick architecture, Valley of Hadramut, serves a significant case in point.

Venue: Say’un, Wadi Hadramut | Republic of Yemen

Dates: 28 February – 4 March 2011

Official Language English & Arabic for presentation- (Papers in French will be accepted for publication in the Conference proceedings).

Conference Themes:

1. Architectural Rehabilitation and Development
2. Modern & Contemporary Buildings: Innovation, Construction and Design (Case Studies and Projects)
3. Yemeni Cities & Vernacular Architecture at Risk: Dilapidation, Destruction & Flood Damage
4. Future Use of Restored Residential Clusters & Heritage Landmarks
5. Environmental Issues: Sustainable Planning Methods & Guidelines

Attending international participants include leading specialists, academics and architects from India, Chile, Portugal, Italy, UK, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and France. Queries please contact Salma Samar Damluji at: salmasamar@damluji.org

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CEASID EARTH ARCHITECTURE TRAINING

The Center for Earth Architecture & Sustainable Integrated Development (CEASID) in Bangalore, India is hosting a Certificate Training Course in Earth Architecture. Details below:

Part-I (1week)
* Duration- 27th December-31st December 2010 (Mon-Fri)

*Eligibility – Open for all .
…(Architects/Non-Architects/students/Professionals/working/non-working).

*Fees- Indian Rupees -7,500 /- plus registration.

*Training contents:(Theory + Practice + Field visits):
-Introduction to Earth Architecture & its scope.
-Soil Identification,Stabilization & Soil Tests.
-Compressed stabilized Earth Blocks(CSEB) Production & Use
-Earth Arches, Vaults & Domes(AVD)-Construction & Use
-CSEB & AVD Case Studies
-Block making
-Feild Study & site visits
-Design Studio
-Participants’ Sessions & Their work presentations.

*Note-
-Training certificate & Training manual will be given at the end of the training.
-Intake:Minimum seats -10,Maximum seats -40 candidates.
– The training is very intensive and that any lecture/session missed will be detrimental to the trainee.

Part-II (1week)

* Duration- 02nd January-06th January 2011 (Sun-Thur)

*Eligibility – Open for all .
…(Architects/Non-Architects/students/Professionals/working/non-working).

*Fees- Indian Rupees -7,500 /- plus registration.

*TRAINING CONTENTS:
(Theory + Practice + Field visits+ Design Studio):

-Introduction to Earth Architecture & its scope.
-Introduction to World Earth Technologies:
-1.Extruded Technology
-2.Daubed Technology
-3.Poured Technology
-4.Formed Technology
-5.Projected Earth Technology
-6.Hybrid Technology
-7.Papercrete Technology
-8.Dug Out Technology
-9.Covered Technology
-10.Filled In Technology
-11.Cut Technology
-12.Compressed & Rammed Technology.
-13.Shaped Technology
-14.Stacked Technology
-15.Moulded Technology
-Earthquake resistant earth construction
-Earth Fast & Movable Construction
-Case studies
-Feild Study & site visits
-Design Studios
-Participants’ Sessions & Their work presentations.

*Note-
-Training certificate & Training manual will be given at the end of the training.
-Intake:Minimum seats -10,Maximum seats -40 candidates.
– The training is very intensive and that any lecture/session missed will be detrimental to the trainee.

*For Registration please Contact-
Ar.Mrs.Shubha Shukla
(Founder & Director CEASID,Bangalore,India)
Ph – 09620878423
email: ceasid@gmail.com

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Piscina Municipal de Toro


Photo: Héctor Santos-Díez

Vier Arquitectos, comprised of Antonio Raya, Christopher Crespo, Santiago Sánchez and Enrique Antelo, are the designers a municipal swimming pool in Toro (Zamora), Spain. A unique quality of the facility is that its exterior walls have been constructed of rammed earth, a traditional technique updated on a contemporary building typology.


Photo: Héctor Santos-Díez

The building, comprising three volumes, two for dressing and one more for the pool’s, supporting thermal collectors used to heat the pool water and showers, and extra water from the cleaning process, which is stored in a reservoir and reused in irrigating the landscape.


Photo: Héctor Santos-Díez

Low-energy materials were used throughout and the design for the pool received the first prize for ex eaquo de Edificación Sostenible in Castilla y Leon in its first edition.


Photo: Héctor Santos-Díez

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Earth House by Jolson Architecture Interiors

Constructed primarily in rammed earth using local Dromana crushed rock, the Earth House, designed by Jolson Architecture Interiors, is a 465 sqm 4 bedroom residence that seemingly rises from the landscape and cranks to capture the sweeping rural and coastal panoramic views.

The western elevation consists of solid rammed earth walls without penetrations, designed as thermal banks capturing the afternoon sun. The eastern elevation is glazed to siphon dominant views inside. Designed around a large enclosed courtyard that provides protection from the strong winds, this outdoor room allows northern sunlight to filter into the main living areas.

Read more at ArchDaily.

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Hassan Fathy is The Middle East’s Father of Sustainable Architecture

Green Prophet has railed against projects like Dubai Burj Tower. They have pounded our chests at the audacity of Masdar City’s “zero” footprint claim, and have decried the potential consequences of unsustainable approaches to building and planning. “USD22 billion” for a building project and “sustainable” simply don’t belong in the same sentence.

Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy died in 1989 but left behind a legacy of 160 building projects ranging from small projects to large-scale communities complete with mosques and schools. His impact can still be felt from Egypt to Greece and even New Mexico, where in 1981 he designed the Dar Ar-Salam community. Fathy received several awards for his work, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980, and founded The International Institute for Appropriate Technology in 1977.

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Announcement of PhD Position in Rammed Earth

The School of Civil and Resource Engineering of the University of Western Australia has a PhD position available for the following PhD project:

MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RAMMED EARTH

Summary:
The significance of this project lies in recognition of the economic, environmental and social benefits of rammed earth as a construction material in Australian remote communities, and addresses the lack of a proper Australian Standards code supporting its wide-spread use. Qualitative and quantitative characterisation of the material and structural properties of rammed earth will be done through a comprehensive program of laboratory and industry-supported on-site experimental tests. The project will result in a first ever “Proposal Form for Standards Development” for rammed earth structures, to be submitted to Standards Australia. The findings will significantly improve cost effectiveness and safety of rammed earth structures in Australia.

For more information download the position brief here.

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Arquitectura Con Tierra en Uruguay

Arquitectura con tierra en Uruguay is a book that offers a tour of fifteen case studies of buildings constructed with earth in Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha and Salto, Uruguay. One of the most significant characteristics of this type of construction technology in Uruguay is the amount of new work, which makes a difference to other countries in the region. This publication presents the works of several architects and builders from 1996 to 2009 in a compilation of 250 photographs and charts.

Arquitectura con tierra en Uruguay makes clear the living traditions of ancient technologies that are increasingly valued. This book is available in Uruguay in the Faculty of Architecture Library (Bulevar Artigas 1031, Montevideo) and in the Library of the Society of Architects of Uruguay (Gonzalo Ramírez 2030, Montevideo). It can be purchased elsewhere through www.entrelibros.com.uy

To preview the contents of the publication visit www.arquitecturacontierra.com.uy

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Arquitectura con tierra en Uruguay es un libro que propone una recorrida por quince casos de construcciones con tierra en los departamentos de Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha y Salto. Una de las características más significativas de este tipo de tecnología constructiva en Uruguay es la cantidad de obra nueva que marca la diferencia con respecto a otros países de la región. En esta publicación se recopilan las obras de varios arquitectos y constructores desde 1996 a 2009 a través de 250 fotografías y gráficos elaborados especialmente.

Arquitectura con tierra en Uruguay da cuenta de la siempre viva actualidad de técnicas milenarias que vuelven a cobrar valor. Este libro se puede adquirir en Uruguay en la Librería de Facultad de Arquitectura (Bulevar Artigas 1031, Montevideo) y en la Librería de la Sociedad de Arquitectos del Uruguay (Gonzalo Ramírez 2030, Montevideo). Puede ser adquirido desde el exterior a través del sitio www.entrelibros.com.uy

Para ver un avance del contenido de la publicación viste www.arquitecturacontierra.com.uy

Arquitectura con tierra en Uruguay – Autor: Alejandro Ferreiro – 120 páginas – 17 x 24 cm – ISBN 978-9974-98-153-9. Alejandro Ferreiro es arquitecto egresado de la Facultad de Arquitectura (UdelaR) en 2005. Se desempeña como docente de la cátedra de Arquitectura y Tecnología y ha participado como capacitador a partir de 2002 en distintas actividades y jornadas universitarias de transferencia tecnológica. Desde el año 2008 comienza a trabajar como profesional liberal en proyectos de arquitectura con tierra y materiales naturales.

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Greenhouse Atelier

The Greenhouse Atelier, designed by al bordE, in Machachi, Ecuador is a shelter designed to express the powerful reflection of nature in the client’s paintings. The atelier is a “bubble” suspended between stone walls and rammed earth.

The existing space between walls, ground and bubble, protect the space from absorbing the humidity of the moorland. Additionally the first sun rays heat a radiator system that increase the temperature of the air gap. This heated air enters the space making it thermally comfortable. In the afternoon the main façade absorbs the sun heat, saving it in the solid floor of the workshop releasing the heat during the night.

[ More at Arch Daily ]