Rammed Earth Asian Roof

Said to have been used first in lyons france in 1562 rammed earth construction has a lot to recommend it.

Rammed earth asian roof.

Rammed earth also known as taipa in portuguese tapial or tapia in spanish tàpia in catalan pisé de terre in french and hāngtǔ 夯土 in chinese is a technique for constructing foundations floors and walls using natural raw materials such as earth chalk lime or gravel. When powered by enthusiasm and insufficient knowledge rammed earth results can be variable. Rammed earth proves this point beyond doubt. It allows for installation of rammed earth in more applications and can lead to a lowered cost.

Rammed earth construction is an accepted solution in some building codes in regions where the technique has historical precedent. The green building benefits include low embodied energy recyclability high thermal mass low energy loads and non toxicity. Tapered rammed earth walls support the roof of this small shelter that architecture student conor denison has built on the desert campus of frank lloyd wright s school of architecture at taliesin. Rammed earth like all soil based construction types can be repaired quite easily if damaged by the addition of new soil mix.

Rammed earth is easy to do but difficult to do well. Code compliance of rammed earth construction. Plastic waste is repurposed into window screens and roof materials and the sturdy rammed earth walls are covered in a cassava starch sealant to prevent exterior water damage. It is an ancient method that has been revived recently when as a sustainable building method.

For those reasons terrell wong is a fan of the material and the method. Green building enthusiasts inspired to break ground and build a rammed earth structure with the best of intentions may be missing key components to create healthy energy efficient homes and buildings that will last for future generations. The author describes his experiences in the 1940s building a rammed earth house an oddball decision at the time and how well the structure has served him since then. In rainy climates for example a rammed earth home might need additional insulation as well as a larger roof so that the overhangs protect the earthen walls.