EARTH ARCHITECTURE

Location: Dinajpur, Bangladesh
Year: 2006
​Architect:  Anna Heringer

Anna Heringer’s METI Handmade School in Bangladesh exemplifies an innovative approach to sustainable architecture, rooted in local materials and traditional building techniques. The school was designed to serve as a community hub for education, demonstrating how effective construction methods can enhance both functionality and environmental stewardship.

The foundation of the building rests on a 50 cm deep brick masonry base, finished with a cement plaster facing. In Bangladesh, bricks are the primary building material, produced from the region’s abundant clayey alluvial sand, as natural stone is scarce. These bricks are fired in open circular kilns using imported coal, resulting in a durable and locally sourced construction element.

Facade Photo,  Source

Cob Walling Technique, Source

An essential addition to local earthen building practices is the damp proof course, consisting of a double layer of locally available polyethylene film. This innovation protects the structure from moisture, enhancing its longevity. The ground floor features load-bearing walls constructed using a technique akin to cob walling. A mixture of straw and earth, with minimal straw content, is prepared with the help of local livestock and applied in layers atop the foundation. Each layer is heaped to a height of 65 cm and then trimmed after a few days to maintain uniformity. After allowing for a drying period, successive layers are added, integrating door and window lintels along with a ring beam made of thick bamboo canes.

 

Section, Source

The ceiling of the ground floor employs a triple layer of bamboo canes, with the central layer arranged perpendicularly to provide lateral stabilization. This layer is topped with split bamboo planking and filled with the earthen mixture, mirroring techniques used in European timber-frame constructions.

For the upper storey, a frame construction is utilized, comprising four-layer bamboo beams and vertical and diagonal members arranged at right angles. This design enhances the structural integrity of the building, with the frames at the ends stiffening the overall structure. Additional structural members connect the beams, and wind bracing is incorporated on the upper surface to further strengthen the frame. Supporting the corrugated iron roof are a series of bamboo rafters, which are adjusted in height for optimal runoff, topped with timber paneling.

Through its innovative design and construction techniques, the METI Handmade School not only provides an educational facility but also serves as a model for sustainable building practices. It engages the community, preserves traditional craftsmanship, and utilizes local resources effectively, making it a beacon of environmental and social responsibility in architecture.

Source

Hope Village is located in Tanzania of East Africa, along the coast of the Indian Ocean. The main component of this project is the community center building, which is designed with complex earthen walls and a metal / wood roofing system. This community center will serve as a 480 student school, kitchen, dining hall, bakery, and storage space. Surrounding this main building will be housing for the children of the community, aged 3-18 years old.   This project is being created in collaboration with Hassell Studio, ClarkeHopkinsClarke Studio, the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, EOC Engineers, and One Heart Tanzania. 

Sustainability is a major factor in the design and construction of the Hope Community Center, which, due to their 100% recyclability,  resulted in the selection of 3D printed earthen/adobe walls. These wall designs are being created in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, and prototypes are currently being built in Barcelona. The walls are currently designed in a lattice-type structure, allowing for significant air circulation within the community center as well as diluted light throughout the space. The soil used for the walls will be sourced from no more than 15.5 miles of the site, and the layers will contain thin wire mesh sheets to add to the structural integrity of the building. 

 

The adobe is expelled from the machine shown above to create the multi-layered lattice structure (Crane WASP Printing System). The plan is for technical experts from Hessel Studio, ClarkeHopkinsClarke Studio,  Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and EOC to travel to the site and teach locals how to use this Crane WASP technology. The machinery is then planned to be left there, with community members now able to operate it on their own and continue to develop their community spaces. 

 

The roofing system will be constructed out of local timber and a central steel beam. The roof “resembles a draped blanket. Comprising short pieces of timber, the roof will further be supported by cladding made of readily available corrugated metal sheet panels.” 

 

This image shows the combined  planned use of wood, corrugated metal sheets and steel beams for the construction of the roof. 

Construction of the village and the community center is set to begin in early to mid 2025. The intention of its construction is to involve the local community and provide job opportunities throughout the building process, all while prioritizing safety and access to crucial resources for local youth. 

Location: Hope Village, Kibaha, Tanzania

Architects: HASSELL, ClarkeHopkinsClarke

Charity/Partner: One Heart Tanzania @one_heart_co

Collaborator: Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia 

Structural Engineering: EOC @eocengineers

Renderings: IMIGO @imigo.it

Start Construction: 2025

 

The Clay Rotunda is a cylindrical, free-standing structure that encloses the SE MusicLab, a high-fidelity music space inside the renovated Gurten Brewery in Bern. This innovative design uses unreinforced clay, a zero-waste, eco-friendly material, as its primary component. Standing 5 meters tall with a diameter of almost 11 meters, the structure was built entirely on-site over a period of 50 days using advanced robotic technology, assembling over 30,000 soft clay bricks.

The project was initiated by SE MusicLab, a high-fidelity music studio, with the design executed by a collaborative team involving experts from Lehmag (a specialist in earthen construction), Seforb (an engineering firm), and Brauchli Ziegeleien (a brick manufacturer). These partners share a commitment to integrating traditional materials with modern technology, striving to create sustainable, emission-free construction methods. Their collective goal was to push the limits of earthen architecture by blending computational design with ancient building techniques.

Design Concept
The slender form of the rotunda is stabilized by its undulating surface, which increases the footprint and prevents structural buckling. The geometry was carefully calculated using a computational model that integrated engineering requirements, material properties, and the construction process itself. Given the limited reach of the robotic arm and the natural shrinkage of clay as it dries, the structure was divided into trapezoidal sections. This segmentation was key to ensuring that each clay cylinder was positioned correctly and supported the structural integrity of the whole.

Material Innovation and Construction Process
To achieve the desired strength and malleability, a specific clay mix was developed, blending clay with sand, small stones, and water. This mixture was molded into cylindrical “soft bricks,” each 9 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height. A robotic arm then precisely placed and compressed each brick, reducing it by 40% of its height to create strong bonds between the units. The entire structure was built segment by segment, with the robot relocating to different positions as the project progressed. Throughout the process, 3D scanning was used to continuously monitor the structure’s geometry and adjust for any material shrinkage. Cracks that formed during drying were filled to maintain a consistent finish.

Sustainability Features
One of the key aspects of the Clay Rotunda is its commitment to sustainable building practices. By using clay, a natural material that can be recycled and returned to the earth, the project minimizes waste and avoids harmful emissions. The clay’s inherent qualities also contribute to the building’s interior climate, naturally regulating temperature and humidity, reducing the need for mechanical systems. This project pushes the boundaries of how traditional materials like clay can be reimagined through digital design and robotic construction.

Citations

 

• SE MusicLab Clay Rotunda. SE MusicLab, 2021, www.semusiclab.ch/project-clay-rotunda.
• Lehmag, Seforb, and Brauchli Ziegeleien. Clay Rotunda Process Report. SE MusicLab, 2021, www.semusiclab.ch/research-clay-rotunda.
• Lehmag. Earthen Construction Techniques in Contemporary Architecture. Journal of Sustainable Building, 2021, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 50-65.

 

Location: Gagosian Gallery, New York City

Completion: 2021

Architect:  David Adjaye

‘Asaase’ takes the form of a labyrinthine,  walls made from stacked blocks increasing in height toward a “conical vertex” in the center. The British architect’s first large sculpture was one piece to Social Works, a group exhibition of a dozen Black artists, curated by Antwaun Sargent, to engage with social space “as a community-building tool.”

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“It’s this idea of construction that works across many modes of sensory perceptions….it’s designed to create moments where the audience is just in – between earth. This is something people have forgotten how to do.”

 

 

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Constructing the rammed earth blocks began with a combination of crushed limestone and schist from New York, with the tops of the shorter walls at the perimeter revealing some of the loose aggregate from the process.

The ‘Asaase’ project incorporates a sense of collective memory and aims to evoke a deeper connection with the land, specifically traditional black architecture and historical identities. References to historic works of West African architecture such as the Tiébélé royal complex in Burkina Faso and the walled city of Agadez in Niger, can be seen in the sculpture’s maze form.

The project reflects on the unique essence of a place, drawing connections between the present and the past by examining Black communal spaces across the African continent. It delves into how these spaces served as central hubs for families and communities to gather.

The curved walls invite visitors to explore the spaces between the gallery walls and the piece before entering the spaces inside. These overlapping walls mean there are numerous ways to encounter  and move through the installation.

‘Asaase’ contemplates the idea of fragments—both in terms of physical spaces and the buildings constructed from the earth—that provided the backdrop to everyday life for Black individuals, symbolizing a connection to heritage and history. What Adjaye describes as “fragments of chambers,” can be demonstrated the most by the niche at the center of the maze.

References

• David Adjaye Tries Rammed Earth
• Adjaye Associates
• World Architects
• Photography: John Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arup Associates embraced these natural materials to create a structure that echoes traditional Ladakhi building methods while incorporating modern techniques to ensure long-term resilience.

The layout of the school reflects a deep connection to nature and spirituality. Buildings are arranged in clusters, symbolizing Buddhist mandalas, creating a harmonious flow between the interior learning spaces and the surrounding natural environment. The design respects Ladakh’s spiritual heritage while ensuring that students learn in an environment that fosters a connection with their cultural roots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as well, such as the wooden eaves in the roof, earth-clad for better thermal performance. Wood is also used in the interior, both for floors and the frames of the large windows that bring light into the classrooms. Among the strategies applied to capitalize on passive solar gain are the building’s radiation-maximizing orientation, the functioning of the south facades as Trombe walls, and the use of solar thermal panels for heating and hot water. Water is saved through dry latrines with forced ventilation (by solar chimneys). Because the place is at such a high altitude and the skies are so bright, photovoltaic panels generate all the electricity the school needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineering and architectural aspects focused very much on sustainability, which was particularly important given the challenges of the location, with limited water supply and sometimes adverse climate conditions.

The supply road to the area could be cut off by snow for up to six months of the year yet, on the positive side, sunlight hours are high. The school is located in an area of considerable seismic activity and the methods used to ensure improved safety in the event of an earthquake needed to be easy to emulate for future structures.

Most traditional local buildings don’t benefit from seismic engineering so the Druk White Lotus will spark a new generation of safety-enhanced structures, better able to withstand the ravages of a natural disaster.

With relatively non-complex structural approaches, using timber frames to resist seismic loads, the school enjoys improved protection from earth movements.
Blocks used for the external walls were quarried on site, making effective use of available resources.

During cold evenings resident pupils feel the benefit of ventilated cavity walls, made of mud brick and glass.
Solar energy is stored through the day and used to heat the interior at night. Solar panels generate electrical energy, minimizing local emissions and making maximum use of the high sunlight hours. The panels feed battery packs in an energy center, powering lighting, water supply, and even computers.
Ventilation is natural and the building is positioned to receive natural light.
Limited water supply led to the creation of a dual recycling and distribution system for irrigation. Ground water is pumped using solar power to a tank at the top of the site. Rainfall is directed to planted trees and gravity fed to gardens and water points.
A solar pump powers the unique recycling system, which supplies drinking water to the school’s occupants. The circuit is completed with the disposal of wastewater: waste is filtered down pipes, eventually feeding and sustaining the shady trees surrounding the school.The introduction of Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines is a cost effective, low-tech method of maintaining a high standard of renewable sanitation – they do not use water but instead a solar driven flue to counteract smells and insects.
The building is a truly self-sufficient operation on all counts: an effective reusable energy engine and a valid health and sanitation system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

1- Architectural Case Study on Druk White Lotus School | PPT (slideshare.net)

2- Druk white lotus school study for material.pptx (slideshare.net)

3- Druk White Lotus School – Arup Associates | Arquitectura Viva