Rammed Earth: A Sustainable Environmentally Friendly Building Technology - Term Paper Example

RAMMED EARTH: A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUILDING TECHNOLOGY Insert Name Course Professor’s Name Institution Date THEME: MATERIALS AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY ABSTRACT: There are a number of sustainable building technologies that have been used in the world for many centuries. The building industry has been dominated by some building materials such as masonry, concrete and steel but the growth in the understanding of the environment issues has led to the need to look for new building materials that are not as carbon intensive as such materials. The low embodied technologies that are used in the construction of sustainable buildings have been in use in the world for a long period of time. The rammed earth is a sustainable building material. The buildings have a comprehensive strength of up to 620 psi, or an equivalent of 4.3 MPa. Therefore, rammed earth material is stable and durable withstanding considerable pressure and weight. This makes the rammed earth effective in the construction of domestic buildings. It can also be noted that the walls made of rammed earth are non-toxic and ultimately biodegradable thus reducing the effects that the demolition of such buildings would have on the environment. The energy efficiency is an element that is found in the use of the rammed earth in a number of ways. The energy in terms of the fuels that would be used in the process of the transportation of the materials is low. The rammed earth also have very high thermal mass due its relatively thick size which is only one foot and offers great protection from severe climate. The thermal mass that is found in such buildings such as Borough House Plantation plays a great role in the energy efficiency. The earth buildings are not commonly used in Australia due to a number of reasons. First, the people usually fear that the house can usually carve in and the fear that the rains may wash the soil that is used thus leading to the collapse of the buildings. Introduction The building industry has been dominated by some building materials such as masonry, concrete and steel but the growth in the understanding of the environment issues has necessitated the search for more environment friendly building materials that are not as carbon intensive as the aforementioned materials. The focus of the construction industry must ensure environmentally sustainable construction (John, Nebel, Perez, and Buchanan, 2008). Therefore, my subject matter is rammed earth as building material which indeed is an environmentally sustainable building technology. Rammed earth is an ancient technology but has resurfaced in recent times as viable sustainable building technology. Although, rammed earth technology is not widely used, it is considerably applied in various countries such as Morocco and Australia. This paper will endeavour to inform on rammed earth technology, its origin, its use and the innumerable benefits that comes with it with reference to the Rammed Earth House in Germany, Haus Rath (figure 1). In actual fact, the rammed earth technology is demonstrated by citation of various buildings in which some are of ancient times whereas some are of modern day. The building of main interest herein is the Rammed Earth House in Germany, Haus Rath (see figure 1). The building was constructed in the 1828 and is still in used today. The rammed earth in Germany is specifically located in Weilburg. Haus Rath, was built on a hillside where it stands to date. It has seven storeys at the rear as well as the four extra storeys at the front. The Weilburg region of Germany harbours numerous rammed earth buildings which are documented in Wilhelm Schick pamphlet”der Pise Bau Zu weilburg der Lahn” which was published in the year 1987 (historicrammedearth.co.uk, 2013). Figure 1. Haus Rath, the tallest rammed earth building in Germany. Source: (http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/germany.htm, 2013). Low embodied energy: Rammed Earth Technique Rammed Earth is a technique employed in building walls in which a mix of earth is firmed in layers sandwiched between shapes. Each layer of earth is roughly 6 inches deep. While each shape is filled, an additional one is placed above it and the cycle goes on. This is repeated until the aspired height of the wall is achieved. Shapes can be removed as soon as the shape above is embarked on since the compacted earth wall is self-supporting and firms immediately. In most cases rammed earth builders use pneumatic rammers to compact the earth within the shapes. For instance, in Australia, this has been carried out by Rammed Earth PTY LTD (Windstorm & Schmidt, 2013). Figure 2. Modern practices of building use pneumatically powered tampers to compact each layer (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). The soil mix has to be carefully balanced between aggregate, clay and sand. The moisture content and clay of rammed earth are moderately low compared to that employed for earthing building materials such as mud earth. However, a wider range of soils is apposite wherein a considerable amount of cement is put in the mix. Most rammed earth makers add some cement, especially in Australia. This is done purposely to attain a ‘stabilised rammed earth’ which is reliable product that provided outstanding thermal mass (Rammed Earth Constructions Ltd, 2013). Figure 3. The layers are added in a vertical technique until the wall is completed (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). The distinguished benefits of using rammed earth as a building material are superior and renowned. First, rammed earth has a superior insulation, low maintenance costs, superior fire proofing, astute pest deterrence, exceptional durability and strength as well as its aesthetic value and the convenience of building with an environmentally suitable material. The rammed earth material is popular in construction due to its thermal mass quality which has a very low penetration of heat or cold thus internal temperatures are stable and relatively warmer. In some sites in Australia, especially regions prone to adverse temperature fluctuations rammed earth is a preferred construction material due to its quality of maintaining temperatures to a minimum. For instance, the National Wine centre of Australia is a tremendous example of the efficacy of rammed earth in such climatic regions. Rammed earth is also known to be exceeding environmentally friendly in the sense that it is non-polluting, non-toxic and ‘breathes’ and it is extremely low in embodied energy thus facilitates construction of houses comfortable to live in (Autonopedia, 2013). In modern day world, architects use rammed earth in commercial and domestic buildings of various designs and functions. This is mainly because rammed earth is flexible thus, facilitates variations in texture, colour and finish. In addition, the rammed earth material is flexible to a great extent that allows integration of elements such as aesthetic patterns, artwork, circular windows, alcoves and feature stones. Thus the final product that is, a house blends naturally with the beauty of the natural environment and other light mass artificial materials such as Colorbond, which an award-winning combination. Rammed earth firms lightweight buildings, providing a structural stability and security (Rammed Earth Constructions Ltd, 2013). Figure 4 Rammed Earth in modern day building constructed by Rammed Earth Constructions PT LTD. Source (http://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/index.php?mp_id=5, 2013). Figure 5 Rammed Earth flexibility in incorporation of elements such as windows which are circular at the top source: (http://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/index.php?mp_id=5, 2013). Energy efficiency: Environmentally Sustainable Commercial and Domestic Rammed Earth Construction Since its inception several millenniums ago, rammed earth was evidently used as construction material in places such as china in 5000 BC. Although it was a tedious and a time consuming technique, it has evolved to what it is today. In actual fact, it has relatively expensive compared to its ancient cost. In reality, it can go up to great prices almost equivalent to the cost of building stone done by some architects. For some mega projects in which rammed earth has been used, soil had to be imported and immense quantities of cement and insulation materials were incorporated. However, a construction site in which the client has 30% clay and 70% sand soil or lime, chalk and gravel, the construction project can turn to be quite inexpensive since the materials are useful in constructing simple frames. The construction project is also environmentally friendly in comparison to other methods of construction such as building stone and steel. Whereas, acquisition of the ores of steel and raw materials for cement manufacturing involves learning the vegetation and polluting the ecosystem, soil, the sole raw material in rammed earth construction is the most abundant element on the earth’s surface and it extraction is relatively environmentally friendly (Jaquin & Augarde, 2011). Thus, this technique which is actually non-toxic, fire-proof and termite-resistant is a viable material in construction of walls, benches, supports and columns that can be easily layered with mud slurry between. The flexibility of rammed earth material makes it suitable for construction in earthquake prone areas wherein it can be prepared using rebar bamboo or wood reinforcement to make it more strong and stable. In additional, its exceptional thermal properties make its viable for use in colder climates since it has a negligible heat loss, which can be improvised to a greater quality by incorporating a panel of recycled Styrofoam. The Styrofoam recycled material keeps internal humidity at a range of 40 to 60 percent which is favourable for asthma victims and for the storage of vulnerable items such as artwork and medicine. The process of manufacturing rammed earth materials was initially tedious, but the availability and use of power tampers in the modern world has made it an easy task and very viable (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). . Figure 6 The process of changing the soil into sandstone with the help of pressure. Source (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). In fact, a newly tamped part of a wall is exceeding solid such that if any modification such as removal of shapes is required, it can be executed immediately. Similarly, if wire-brushing is required after removal of shapes, it can be don effectively especially to even the framework edge indentations and adding texture, but must be done immediately within the fours after the form is removed since the wall dries fast although it does not dry up completely until after several months. The flexibility of rammed earth as building material is it main strength, it can be used in most and different climatic areas as long as the necessary modifications are done. For instance, rammed earth is sealed in cases where it is used in the construction of exposed walls to prevent water damage where the walls are exposed to heavy downpour (Easton, 2007). Figure 8 Rammed Earth Building Chantier de l'hôtel Casa Mojanda à Otavalo (Ecuador) Photo: Paul De Neyer, 1995. (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). Figure 9 Today, lightweight, stackable steel frames are popular. Source: (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). Figure 10 Rammed Earth Home by David Oliver, the most renowned rammed earth architect and builder. (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). David Oliver Greenway Architects, Mooloolaba, Australia Discussion: rammed earth prospective There are a number of sustainable building technologies that have been used in the world for many centuries. The main concept in construction revolves around the use of readily available resources to make structures or specific elements such as bricks and building stones which are used to build houses. Construction is relatively a challenging task and achieving a satisfying experience in building a house that meets both structural and design requirements is hard to attain. There are various considerations such as the climate of the site of construction that influences the design, construction materials to b the element of the low embodied buildings as well as the element of the energy efficiency that has been applied in a specific scenario. In addition, the process of construction a house ought to be surveyed and an assessment of the overall environmental impact of the construction. Therefore, the materials used for construction are chosen on the basis of their suitability in specific site relative to their environmental impact in the area (Rammed Earth Constructions Ltd, 2013). Figure 11 the entire village of Ait Benhaddou, Morocco is rammed earth. (inspirationgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). In the world all over, the use of rammed earth is roughly forty percent of the global population and yet its use in western countries diminished after the end of the World War II. This was attributed to the sprung up of suburbs and construction was quite required to be completed speedily. The high demand of housing in the years after the World War II made speedy means of construction grew more popular and the art of rammed earth construction was lost. However, rammed earth building technique was not lost in developing countries which it has been preserved and improvised into its recent form in modern day. In recent times, the western countries are acquiring the technology of rammed earth in modern day and relearning it and seeking to adopt as a major building method. Since it is a very natural technique, it is bound to take the world by storm and achieve a legal authorization for use in most countries around the world. It is a matter of appreciating the past and with pneumatic tamper as an additional tool with an open-minded perspective to construction (inspirationgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). Figure 12 Rammed Earth House in a Glass House. Medellin, Colombia (© A. Jesus Antonio Moreno,Living Earth Foundation / Mauricio Patino) Source: (inspirationalgreen.com/rammedearth.html, 2013). Conclusion The house which was established in 1828 reacts in a poison that absolutely matches the topographical gradient of the hillside and the genuine landscape context which is monolithic structure of a sculptural block. The scene is an absolute artificial nature which is pressed upwards emanating from the underlying earth. Through this process the use of rammed earth material to construct materials made it mark as the exclusive ecologically viable material for construction purposes. The construction indicates a consistent approach towards construction and ecologically sustainable development (Windstorm & Schmidt, 2013). It is believed that rammed earth was solely developed in China in which evidence of simple forms of rammed earth is found at Pingliangtai where ramming tools were found. The walls at Pingliangtai seem to be steeped slightly and wider at the base suggesting a vertical technique used in modern rammed earth materials through heaping of soil to produce a vertical face. A more authentic rammed earth technique was established during the three dynasties during the period of 221 AD to 581 AD where rammed earth was held to place long poles driven into the ground. Additionally, it was used in construction of the Great Wall of China during the 18th century (Durham University. 2013). Although an ancient technology, rammed earth evolved and spread to other countries and continents and has resurface as a viable technology today in the construction industry that is not only affordable, reliable but also environmentally friendly ( Earth Building Association of Australia, 2004). Bibliography Autonopedia, 2013. Rammed Earth Construction. [Accessed November 6 2013] http://autonopedia.org/buildings-and-shelter/rammed-earth-construction/ Easton, D., 2007. The Rammed Earth House: Revised Edition. Toronto: Chelsea Green Publishing. Earth Building Association of Australia, 2004.Building with Earth Bricks and Rammed Earth in Australia. ISBN: 0975603604. Jaquin, P. & Augarde C., 2011. Earth Building: History, Science and Conservation. London: Building Research Establishment. Durham University, Development and spread of rammed earth technique. [Accessed November 6 2013] http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/Lehm_2008.jpg Rammed Earth Constructions LTD. welcome to rammed earth constructions. [Accessed November 6 2013] http://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/ Rammed Earth Constructions LTD. BENEFITS OF BUILDING IN RAMMED EARTH [Accessed November 6 2013] http://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/index.php?mp_id=5 [Accessed November 6 2013] Rammed Earth Constructions LTD. REFERENCES http://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/index.php?mp_id=9 Rammed earth in Germany. [Accessed November 6 2013] http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/germany.htm Rammed Earth. This ancient building technique is making resurgence. . [Accessed November 6 2013] http://www.inspirationgreen.com/rammed-earth.html Windstorm , B. and Schmidt, A. A Report of Contemporary Rammed Earth Construction and Research in North America. Sustainability 2013, 5(2), 400-416; doi:10.3390/su5020400 Read More