Credit: The White balance

Dan Brill Architects has designed a £50,000 extension to an Edwardian home on the outskirts of Winchester using rammed chalk. The chalk, which makes up the soil of the site was considered as it is a traditional technique in the region and because of the large amount of excavation required to accommodate the addition.


Credit: The White balance

The clients, who wanted something contemporary and innovative, appreciated rammed earth and more so the pristine appearance of the stark, white chalk walls. The material has been used in modern construction in the Pines Calyx project. It was also used in the construction of eight experimental cottages at the Department of Industrial Science and Research at Amesbury between 1919 and 1921. Construction is slated for later this year.

Andrea Morgante, founder of Shiro Studio, has collaborated with D-Shape to produce the Radiolaria pavilion, a complex, free-form structure produced using the world’s largest 3D printer. Measuring 3 x 3 x 3 metres, the structure is a scale model of a final 10-metre tall pavilion to be built in Pontedera, Italy, in 2010. D-Shape developed the first large-scale stereolithic printer in 2008 aiming to offer architects the design freedom that rapid prototyping allows them but has so far been confined to scale models. When D-Shape commissioned Andrea Morgante the design for the first large-scale structure to be printed the ultimate aim was to produce a geometry that could be self-supporting and demonstrate the capabilities of this innovative technology: being made of artificial sand-stone material and without any internal steel reinforcement the pavilion’s design and execution had to be intrinsically resilient to several static stresses.

The printing process takes place in a continuous work session: during the printing of each section a ‘structural ink’ is deposited by the printer’s nozzles on the sand. The solidification process takes 24 hours to complete. The new material (inorganic binder + sand or mineral dust) has been subjected to traction, compression and bending tests. The results have been extraordinary and the artificial sandstone features excellent resistance properties. Effectively this process returns any type of sand or mineral dust back to its original compact stone state. The binder transforms any kind of sand or marble dust into a stone-like material (i.e. a mineral with microcrystalline characteristics) with a resistance and traction superior to portland cement, to a point where there is no need to use iron to reinforce the structure. This artificial stone is chemically one hundred percent environmentally friendly.

In collaboration with Ramboll UK, the Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering at the University College London has funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for an EngD studentship (4 year programme) for the following project: INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS FOR SEISMICALLY RESISTANT MUD BRICK CONSTRUCTION. Click here to download the project description.

The secret of a successful sandcastle could aid the revival of an ancient eco-friendly building technique, according to research led by Durham University. Researchers, led by experts at Durham’s School of Engineering, have carried out a study into the strength of rammed earth, which is growing in popularity as a sustainable building method.

Photo: Jacob Ehrenberg, Copyright © 2009 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

British artist, Andy Goldsworthy, is planning to produce a work using 4 to 5ft (1.2 to 1.5m) "stones" made from objects embedded in rammed earth. The stones will eventually disintegrate to reveal whatever material he decides to leave inside each one. Each stone will be made with earth containing materials and objects. These will be incorporated into each stone as it is being constructed and might be rocks, branches, bones, tools, seeds, clothes, beach debris or anything else.

The project is reminiscent of Smiljan Radic's Casa del Carbonero. This is not Goldsworthy's first foray into earth art. His project, Clay Wall, is a large clay plastered wall that uses human hair from his home village as a binder.

SIREWALL® has updated ancient rammed earth processes with a new global standard for durable, healthy and energy efficient buildings and spaces. SIREWALLs are Stabilized, Insulated, Rammed Earth walls. SIREWALL homes and buildings are constructed with a matrix of local soils strengthened with rebar and a small percentage of cement that surround a core of insulation. A typical SIREWALL is 18″ to 24″ thick, with 4″ of rigid insulation hidden in the centre of the wall. From a dream home or cottage to a winery or cultural centre, SIREWALL builds beautiful walls with timeless distinction.

SIREWALL, the creation of an acclaimed local green building company and recipient of a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, will be offering introductory courses on Stabilized, Insulated, Rammed Earth (SIRE) this spring and summer.

The University of Bath Department BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering is offering Research Studentships that include:

Humidity buffering using earth masonry: During experimental studies, earth masonry has been shown to buffer humidity in buildings by reducing peaks experienced under normal usage (e.g. in shower rooms). This has potential to improve occupant health and reduce ventilation (and therefore energy demand) in buildings but the effect has not been fully qualified. This project aims to quantify how earth masonry materials can buffer humidity in buildings. Supervisor Dr Andrew Heath

Grouting mix design for historic mud brick masonry: Established grouting methods are available for stone and brick masonry set in lime mortar. However there is at present little work on unfired and low-fired brick masonry set in predominantly mud mortar with rubble cores. This type of masonry constitutes a large proportion of historic buildings worldwide.The efficacy of grouting historic masonry to reinstate integrity or enhance structural capacity, especially against lateral loading, has been proved by various researchers. The project will research ad hoc grouting mixes for traditional mud set masonry by investigating lime and soil mixes. Experimental work will be carried out by means of test walls. Non destructive testing techniques will be also used in collaboration with a well established testing house and on site trials will be conducted in the latter stage of the study. Supervisors Dr Dina D'Ayala and Dr Enrico Fodde.

Projects to start: October 2009

The studentships:
The studentships cover home/EU tuition fees, a standard stipend (currently £12,940 (tax free) per annum), and research expenses. In addition, departmental teaching assistantships, up to a value of £1500 p.a. are also available. Overseas students are eligible to apply, but will be expected to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees (currently around £8,000 p.a.) and have an English Language Qualification, IELTS of not less than 7 or its equivalent.

The successful candidate will join the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials in the Faculty of Engineering & Design. In the recent Research Assessment Exercise 70% of staff at the University of Bath's Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering were graded as internationally leading or internationally significant in their field. This translates as 6th place nationally in the Built Environment Unit of Assessment, and maintains the equivalent of our top 5 rating achieved in the 2001 RAE.

The University of Bath is located within the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath.

Applications:
Candidates should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Science or a related subject.

For further information please contact: Prof. Pete Walker, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Campus, Bath BA2 7AY; Email: p.walker@bath.ac.uk; Tel: 01225 386646.

Applications should be submitted by post or on-line. For further information on the application process please contact Emma Greeley (Email: e.s.j.greeley@bath.ac.uk; Tel: 01225 386908) or visit the university's Graduate Office web pages: http://www.bath.ac.uk/grad-office/.

The deadline for receipt of applications is the 31st of March 2009.

The 11th International Conference on Non-conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT 2009) is announcing a call for papers with the theme: Materials for sustainable and affordable construction. The conference will take place September 6th - 9th 2009 at the University of Bath, Bath, UK. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/nocmat2009/.

The organizers of the 2009 People, Land and Property lecture, sponsored by BDO Stoy Hayward, are delighted to invite you to the lecture, "Building with Raw Earth: An Eco-Revolution? The Sustainable Future of a Millenial Tradition: Housing, Urban Development and Land Uses" by Jean Dethier.

The lecture will be held Tuesday, February 17th, 2008 in Fitzwilliam College Auditorium, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge CB3 0DG at 5:00 pm, followed by a drinks reception. For more information contact mmcy100@cam.ac.uk

You are invited to the first full meeting of Earth Building UK, a new national organisation established to represent, support and promote earth building in the UK. This is an opportunity to influence EBUK's organisation and operation from its beginning. EBUK's first meeting will take place at the University of Bath on Friday 16th January 2009. Further details, including the process for registering, can be found here: http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/ebuk-meeting/. Aseries of high quality presentations are lined up as part of the day. For more information contact:

Enrico Fodde
Lecturer
BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
University of Bath
Bath BA2 7AY
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 383185
Fax: +44 (0) 1225 384495
Email: E.Fodde@bath.ac.uk
http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/

Pete Walker,
Director BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials,
Dept. Architecture & Civil Engineering,
University of Bath,
Bath BA2 7AY,
UK.
Tel: 01225 386646
Fax: 01225 386691
http://www.bath.ac.uk/bre

Architect David Richmond & Partners and structural engineer Price & Myers are creating a rammed earth wall using local soil for a new library and archive at Douai Abbey. The proposed 300mm-thick, 2.7m-tall earth walls, which will be built on a 100mm-tall concrete plinth, offer the right amount of thermal mass to ensure a stable internal temperature. When built, it will be the only library in the UK to use rammed earth technology. It is also the first time that either the architect or the structural engineer have worked with rammed earth.

EARTHA, The East Anglian Regional Telluric Houses Association, is an organization whose aims and objectives are to encourage the development of expertise and understanding in all aspects of earth building in the east of England by:

Establishing a network of people from various professions and trades all of whom have an interest in the study, maintenance and promotion of earth buildings in the east of England: through links with ICOMOS it will join with other networks in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

Providing a forum for discussion of issues relating to earth building in the east of England.

Providing advice on the repair and maintenance of earth buildings through an information service, the publication of technical guidance and the organisation of practical demonstrations, exhibitions and seminars.

Establishing mutually beneficial links with groups and individuals working with earth buildings in the other parts of the Britain and abroad.

Collaborating with other networks to prepare and publish information manual covering all aspects of the construction, repair and maintenance of earth buildings including composite structures, daubs, renders and plasters.

Encouraging and supporting training in the field of earth building and associated skills.

Encouraging the revival of appropriate earth building techniques for new building construction and investigating the potential of the material for low energy buildings.

The Wild Bird Discovery Centre at Saltholme, Teeside, United Kingdom, fuses 21st Century architecture to both modern and traditional materials and sustainable construction principles. Architect Alison Thornton-Sykes of JDDK designed the futuristic bird center for the The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which will incoporate aircraft construction techniques and rammed earth construction.

On Thursday 8 November 2007 at 6pm at the International HQ of the Institution of Structural Engineers in London, Paul Jaquin, MEng of the website Historic Rammed Earth, will present a Study of historic rammed earth structures in Spain and India. Paul visited eight locations in northern Spain and three in northern India where he gained a greater understanding of historic rammed earth. Methods of construction, modes of failure and repair techniques were investigated. Use of rammed earth as a modern building material is increasing, and the study of historic structures can inform development of the technique today. A number of examples which are considered to be of interest to practising engineers are presented. The examples deal with the presence of water in earthen structures, cracking and methods of crack repair, the facing of rammed earth with a less permeable material, and medieval seismic protection measures. Refreshments will be served at 5:30. For more information download the lecture poster.

At the vanguard of efforts to revolutionise the way we build our homes are scientists who are taking their cues from the methods of the past to make mud the building block of the future.