Paper

Earth Made Urban Living: Earthen Construction Materials and Techniques for Contemporary Housing

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Abstract

A recent press release by Freddie Mac states three major challenges the US currently faces: a sparsity of affordable housing, skilled laborers, and sustainable materials. A significant portion of the population across the US Gulf South region lacks access to affordable housing, a fundamental element to bringing down homelessness, developing employment opportunities, and encouraging economic prosperity. This 4th & 5th year studio concentrated on the potential of earthen construction materials and techniques, specifically compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) which are reasonably priced, widely available, and sustainable, as a potential resource to address present-day housing challenges. The aim was to develop design proposals focused on contemporary, cost efficient, urban housing for up to 40 families using earthen building technologies suitable for use in environments with a hot wet climate. Over the course of the semester, students engaged this challenge using virtual and hands-on techniques to develop design proposals constructed of earth block building assemblies. In congruence with explorations into site, program, organization, structure, enclosure, and systems, investigations into earthen property attributes, block design and fabrication methods, and wall erection strategies were happening at the same time. Working concurrently, students utilized both architectural representations (scaled drawings) and actual material mock-ups (full size building components and assemblies) to guide the design process. Prototype interlocking compressed earth blocks were designed and then fabricated using a CINVA-Ram manual press with inserts shaped to specific block forms. Earthen mixtures composed of varying percentages of silt, sand, clay, additives, and water were developed relative to the specific block geometries to minimize cracking and enhance structural performance. Following fabrication, the blocks were stacked, at varying orientations, into wall assemblies allowing students to test drawn design decisions and inform potential revisions to the proposed building enclosures. Critical questions explored included: Are there by-products of regional industrial processes that are readily available, cost effective, and sustainable that could be used as an additive in the earthen mixture to strengthen CSEBs? How can CSEB walls be assembled to a consistent set of standards in communities that only have access to minimally trained constructors? How can CSEB walls, customary to hot dry central US regions, be modified to perform in hot wet coastal US regions dependent on air conditioning to reduce humidity and climatize interior spaces? Students engaged questions critical to earthen construction materials and techniques for contemporary housing at multiple scales, simultaneously addressing inquiries into context/site/building and materials/components/assemblies. This diverse approach presented students an opportunity to explore in a boundless undefined manner, continually open to the influence of new discoveries through the iterative processes of drawing, fabricating, and assembling. Students worked in teams (2, 3, or 4 persons), engaged this challenge, using virtual and tactile techniques, and developed contemporary housing design proposals constructed of earth block assemblies. This was a very hands-on studio with approximately 50% of the time devoted to fabricating earth blocks, constructing block wall assemblies, and details.

Keywords: Earth, Construction, Fabrication, Assembly, Housing

How to Cite:

Holton, R., (2023) “Earth Made Urban Living: Earthen Construction Materials and Techniques for Contemporary Housing”, Building Technology Educators’ Society 2023(1), 78–84. doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/btes.1936