Earth architecture by sarthak kaura

Earth
Architecture
BY AR. SARTHAK KAURA
sarthakaura.wix.com/arsarthakkaura

INTRODUCTION
• Mud has been the most essential building materials since the dawn of
the man.
• Mud is a building material which has already being tested
and tried for thousands of years.
• It is used in modern day construction and the method of using it is very
different.
• Mud has its own limitations which can be overcome by certain
techniques.
• The main advantage of mud is we do not need lot of energy to
manufacture it unlike other materials.
 Mud construction is mainly found in places which are relatively dry
and have mud in abundance.
 The mud – house uses minimal energy, is comfortable year round.

• The mud – house construction uses only simple natural materials,
which are digging soil from the earth, mixing with water and
added up with paddy or hay or any dried fiber or even recycling
garbage.
• Mud house construction is durable and can be easily rebuilt .
• Mud construction also provide natural air conditioning which
provide cool air from the massive walls.

Various
construction
methods
 Stacked earth (COB)
 Rammed earth
 Adobe
 Wattle & Daub
 Formed earth (StrawClay)
 Earth filled in
 Compressed earth blocks

STACKED EARTH
(COB)
 A very stiff mud is prepared by mixing mud and water in the
proportion of 1:3 and it is moulded into huge elongated egg
shape.
 The elongated egg shape mud is 12 to 18 inches, (30 to 40-cm)
long and about 6 inches (15-cm) in diameter.
 For making a wall , a row of cob is placed in proper line and is
pressed to avoid gaps and crack.

• In this way two to three layers of cobs are placed one above the
other and the sides are smoothed to avoid cracks and gap.
• Door wooden frame or kerosene tins are used to make the
openings.
• COB is good for anything except height. It is particularly good
for curved or round walls.

RAMMED
EARTH
• This is a method in which the strength of the wall can be
increased by increasing the thickness of the wall.
• Two parallel planks are held firmly apart by metal rods and clips
or bolts, or by small crosspieces of wood.
 Stiff mud is thrown in between these two planks and rammed
down with either a wooden or metal ramrod.
 When one section is completed and hard, the two planks are then
raised up and a second course of rammed earth is repeated over
the first.

RAMMEDEARTH

ADOBE
 Adobe as a building material has been used since ages all over
the world and especially in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• The blocks shall be kept in shaded area like having enough air
circulation.
• Sprinkle water over blocks daily, as many times needed, during 28
days.
• Write date of production on block corner.
• Cover stacks top with coconut leaves or any other cover to avoid
direct sunlight.
• Principle is that blocks shall not dry for 4weeks.

EARTH
FILLED-IN
• Humid soil is traditionally poured into wooden lattice works.Thus,
it gave some thermal mass to light structures as well as some
acoustic insulation.
• In recent times, dry soil has been poured into synthetic textiles
which are hold outside by wooden poles driven into the ground.
• Dry soil is also being poured into long synthetic tubes, which
are staked upon each other.

EARTH
FILLED-IN
 Cal-Earth (TheCalifornia Institute of Earth Art and Architecture) does an
extensive use of filled in technique.
 They call it Super adobe construction and they are building what is called
Eco-domes. Super adobe structures are an excellent example of green
building techniques.

FORMED EARTH
(Straw Clay)
 Very clayey soil, in a liquid state, is poured on straw, which has been
chopped to the desired length.
• The mix is generally tampered afterwards into forms.
• These walls are not load-bearing.
• They are light, have a very high thermal insulation value and must
be built in a wooden structure.
• Straw clay can be used as a filler wall, formed between a wooden
structure or as prefabricated blocks.

Wattle and
daub
• Wattle and daub method is an old and common method of
building mud structures.
• Bamboo and cane frame structure that supports the roof.
• Mud is plastered over this mesh of bamboo cane and straws.
• Due to excessive rainfall theWattle and
 Daub structures gets washed off.
• However, the mesh of cane or split bamboo remains intact and
after the heavy rain is over the mud is plastered on again.

Advantages
• Saves natural resources.
• Using neither cement nor rock (Save our mountains).
• To save building materials: Main materials are soil and water,
mixed to be mud, if the mud is too sticky, we can add up with
paddy husky or rice straw or local fiber weed or bamboo.
• Energy use :To save energy.
• Cool in summer (Inside building temperature is about 24°c to
26°c.
• Warm inWinter (Automatic control temperature by passive
cooling system)
• Capital Expenditure:
• To save money. No air – conditioning, no electricity bills.

Disadvantages
 Humidity is the crucial factor, mud-house will easily catch fungus.
 The brand- new mud-house may have foul odour of crushed
green leaves.
 Erodes easily by water.
 Low tensile and shear strength , hence , roofs difficult.
 Susceptible to mechanical damage, rodents and burgles.
 Grip between earth and wood is very weak , hence, framed
doors and windows are not possible.
 Requires regular maintenance.
 Not fire proof and not termite proof.

Thank you.
Presentation by
Ar. Sarthak Kaura
Bibliography
Dharmalaya Institute, Bir (Himachal Pradesh)
http://www.earth-auroville.com
https://www.building-design-and-construction-systems-brick.co.in
Pritchett, Ian. The BuildingConservation Directory, 2001: "Wattle and Daub".Accessed 2 February 2007

Earth architecture by sarthak kaura

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