"The ground we walk on and grow crops in also just happens to be the most widely used building material on the planet. Civilizations throughout time have used it to create stable warm low-impact structures. The world's first skyscrapers were built of mud brick. Paul Revere Chairman Mao and Ronald Reagan all lived in earth houses at various points in their lives and several of the buildings housing Donald Judd's priceless collection at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa Texas are made of mud brick." "While the vast legacy of traditional and vernacular earthen construction has been widely discussed, little attention has been paid to the contemporary tradition of earth architecture. Author Ronald Rael founder of Eartharchitecture.org provides a history of building with earth in the modern era focusing particularly on projects constructed in the last few decades that use rammed earth mud brick compressed earth cob and several other interesting techniques. Earth Architecture presents a selection of more than 40 projects that exemplify new creative uses of the oldest building material on the planet."--BOOK JACKET.

The construction of earth buildings has been taking place worldwide for centuries. With the improved energy efficiency, high level of structural integrity and aesthetically pleasing finishes achieved in modern earth construction, it is now one of the leading choices for sustainable, low-energy building. Modern earth buildings provides an essential exploration of the materials and techniques key to the design, development and construction of such buildings.Beginning with an overview of modern earth building, part one provides an introduction to design and construction issues including insulation, occupant comfort and building codes. Part two goes on to investigate materials for earth buildings, before building technologies are explored in part three including construction techniques for earth buildings. Modern earth structural engineering is the focus of part four, including the creation of earth masonry structures, use of structural steel elements and design of natural disaster-resistant earth buildings. Finally, part five of Modern earth buildings explores the application of modern earth construction through international case studies.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Modern earth buildings is a key reference work for all low-impact building engineers, architects and designers, along with academics in this field. - Provides an essential exploration of the materials and techniques key to the design, development and construction of modern earth buildings - Comprehensively discusses design and construction issues, materials for earth buildings, construction techniques and modern earth structural engineering, among other topics - Examines the application of modern earth construction through international case studies

This book is an example of how dramatic innovations frequently have their origins in the distant past. By rediscovering the most ancient of all building materials -- earth -- homebuilders can now create structures that set new standards for beauty, durability, and extraordinarily efficient use of natural resources. Rammed earth marks a step into a sustainable future, when houses combine aesthetics and practicality with a powerful sense of place. The solid masonry walls permit design flexibility while providing year-round comfort and minimal need for added heating or cooling. From the equatorial tropics to the coldest northern latitudes, the builder and resident of a rammed earth house will experience the satisfaction of creating permanence in a world dominated by the disposable.

The book focuses on low carbon construction materials such as stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEB’s) and rammed earth (RE). The content has been divided into four broad themes which includes an introduction to earth construction & stabilised earth, stabilised compressed earth blocks and masonry, stabilised rammed earth, and energy, carbon emissions, sustainability and case studies. It provides basic introduction to earthen materials and earthen structures, particularly with reference to the contemporary work on stabilised earth products for structural applications in buildings. The illustrations in the form of graphs, tables and photographs help the reader to get a grip over the CEB and RE construction. The book illustrates many case studies and examples of CEB and RE buildings. The knowledge on structural characteristics of CEB and RE especially with reference to the durability of such earthen products, and the structural design aspects is uniquely dealt. The embodied energy, embodied carbon, and the impact on construction sector touching upon sustainability of buildings is another unique feature of the book. This volume will be a useful guide for the research community, teachers, engineers, architects, building professionals, practicing engineers, students and individuals aspiring to build low carbon and sustainable buildings.

Rammed Earth Construction: Cutting-Edge Research on Traditional and Modern Rammed Earth is a collection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the First International Conference on Rammed Earth Construction (ICREC2015, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 10-13 February 2015) by academics, engineers and rammed earth practitioner

The book focuses on low carbon construction materials such as stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEB's) and rammed earth (RE). The content has been divided into four broad themes which includes an introduction to earth construction & stabilised earth, stabilised compressed earth blocks and masonry, stabilised rammed earth, and energy, carbon emissions, sustainability and case studies. It provides basic introduction to earthen materials and earthen structures, particularly with reference to the contemporary work on stabilised earth products for structural applications in buildings. The illustrations in the form of graphs, tables and photographs help the reader to get a grip over the CEB and RE construction. The book illustrates many case studies and examples of CEB and RE buildings. The knowledge on structural characteristics of CEB and RE especially with reference to the durability of such earthen products, and the structural design aspects is uniquely dealt. The embodied energy, embodied carbon, and the impact on construction sector touching upon sustainability of buildings is another unique feature of the book. This volume will be a useful guide for the research community, teachers, engineers, architects, building professionals, practicing engineers, students and individuals aspiring to build low carbon and sustainable buildings.

Until recently, much of the development of building materials has predominantly focused on producing cheaper, stronger and more durable construction materials. More recently attention has been given to the environmental issues in manufacturing, using, disposing and recycling of construction materials. Sustainability of construction materials brings together a wealth of recent research on the subject.The first part of the book gives a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the sustainability of the following building materials: aggregates; timber, wood and bamboo; vegetable fibres; masonry; cement, concrete and cement replacement materials; metals and alloys; glass; and engineered wood products. A final group of chapters cover the use of waste tyre rubber in civil engineering works, the durability of sustainable construction materials and nanotechnologies for sustainable construction.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Sustainability of construction materials is a standard reference for anyone involved in the construction and civil engineering industries with an interest in the highly important topic of sustainability. - Provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the sustainability of a variety of construction materials ranging from wood and bamboo to cement and concrete - Assesses the durability of sustainable construction materials including the utilisation of waste tyre rubber and vegetable fibres - Collates a wealth of recent research including relevant case studies as well as an investigation into future trends

Nonconventional and Vernacular Construction Materials: Characterisation, Properties and Applications, Second Edition covers the topic by taking into account sustainability, the conservation movement, and current interests in cultural identity and its preservation. This updated edition presents case studies, information on relevant codes and regulations, and how they apply (or do not apply) to nocmats. Leading international experts contribute chapters on current applications and the engineering of these construction materials. Sections review vernacular construction, provide future directions for nonconventional and vernacular materials research, focus on natural fibers, and cover the use of industrial byproducts and natural ashes in cement mortar and concrete. - Takes a scientifically rigorous approach to vernacular and non-conventional building materials and their applications - Includes a series of case studies and new material on codes and regulations, thus providing an invaluable compendium of practical knowhow - Presents the wider context of materials science and its applications in the sustainability agenda

For over 25 years, Martin Rauch has been at the forefront of research and development in all aspects of rammed earthed construction. As proper design with earth can only come from truly understanding the material, he would now like to share his experience and knowledge of this construction material in a design manual. The publication goes beyond projects to focus on structural elements, such as the design and layout of floors, walls, ceilings and openings, which are clearly explained with detailed project information from structures previously realised by Martin Rauch. Various examples help to illustrate how to overcome structural engineering difficulties in earth construction and the design possibilities that result from these solutions. Essays about earth as a material and its particular aspects in the areas of building biology, building physics and construction permits complete this fundamental work. - Martin Rauch s experience of over 25 years of practical application in earth construction - From design details and craftsmanship to prefabrication and industrial production - A wide range of various solutions for specific design tasks using completed structures as examples"