Earthen Archaeology at the University College London
Within the Institute of Archaeology at the University College London there are a number of projects concerned with the archaeology, conservation and study of earthen architecture. Their web page details the interests, projects and people involved in this small research group.
Land Art/Earth Architecture
Architects Keith Zawistowski and Marie Richard, alumni of Rural Studio, recently built two rammed earth walls as a land art installation in the New Mexico desert. For this project, they collaborated with CRATerre to reaserch traditional earth building techniques and developed a slip form system for rammed earth, which eliminated form tie holes and can be handled by only two people. Using this system and earth mined from the site they constructed 220 foot long walls.
ARC
ARC Scottland (Architectural, Research or Conservation) has an archive of research reports on earth architecture available for download in .pdf format.
AREA Photo Essays
Photo Essays from the AREA Summer Research+Build workshop have been posted to the AREA 2004 website. visit at: www.areainstitute.org
Archi-terra Fotos
The msn group, Archi-terra Fotos, is a small, but growing, collection of earth architecture from around the world.
Earth Build 2005 Abstracts
Abstracts for the Earth Build 2005 Conference have been posted online.
AASW 2005 Conference And Call For Papers
The Third Annual Adobe Conference of the Adobe Association of the Southwest Celebrating the Work of Simone Swan will take place May 20, 21 and 22, 2005 in El Rito, New Mexico on the campus of Northern New Mexico Community College in Cutting Hall Auditorium. It adjoins the two-story South Dorm and Cafeteria forming a stately adobe complex. Information on the Association and the previous conferences can be found at: http://www.adobeasw.com/
Call for Papers Schedule:
November 22, 2004: Abstracts due. One page, 8-1/2 x11, maximum
December 10, 2004: Notification of acceptance
February 22, 2005: Full paper due. (7-page maximum including graphics)
Presenters will have 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes to answer questions. Time limits will be carefully monitored. The host institution can handle 2×2 slides in Carousels, Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations and overheads. Submit abstracts to Quentin Wilson, Speakers Committee, PO Box 160, El Rito, NM 87530; 505-581-4130 fax or qwilson@mail.nnmcc.edu as an attachment or email body. Final papers preferred in pdf format.
Topics of special interest are:
Affordable adobe construction
Thermal properties of earthen materials
Physical properties of earthen materials including seismic considerations
Historical buildings of note especially in the United States
Historical builders, developers, architects or designers worldwide
New projects: architecture, adobe art and design
Adobe education
Manufacture and supply of adobe and related construction materials
Conference Schedule:
Friday, May 20, 2005 11AM to 1PM Registration
1:30PM to 4:30PM Session I
5PM to 6:30PM Dinner
7PM to 9PM Social Hour
Saturday, May 21, 2005 9:30AM to 12M Session II
1:30PM to 5PM Tour
7PM to 9PM Session III
Sunday, May 22, 2005 9:30AM to 12M Session IV
The Conference registration cost is $60; $30 for speakers. This year, speakers will be responsible for their own room and board costs. Northern New Mexico Community College has dorm rooms, suites, and a cafeteria available at very reasonable prices. Contact us for conference registration, college reservations or local hotel/motel contacts at 877-806-2987 or email info@adobeasw.com
Charles Sturt University at Thurgoona
Rammed earth buildings at Charles Sturt University at Thurgoona will be listed for heritage protection under a draft heritage plan released for public debate. Unlike most heritage items, the innovative, award-winning buildings have been built over the past eight years and some are still under construction. Download a .pdf outlining the specifications of the buildings at Charles Sturt University
Earthen Architecture in the Northern United States
“Earthen Architecture in the Northern United States: European Traditions in Earthen Construction” by Richard Pieper
“In the United States, the use of earth for building is most frequently associated with Hispano-American traditions of adobe construction in the Southwest. There is also, however, in the northern United States a significant tradition of earthen wall construction that is related to techniques of northern European immigrants.”