CREATIVE SPACES INFORMATION PACK NINE

CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE

The information contained in this presentation is for general information purposes only and it is intended that there will be strictly no commercial gain from its production. The content has been

prepared in good faith from what are believed to be reasonably dependable sources but its accuracy and completeness cannot be absolutely guaranteed and should not therefore ever be completely relied

upon. Any perceived breach of copyright is unintentional and entirely accidental.

C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else.

CONTENTS PAGE A WHAT ARE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 1 B WHY USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 2 C HOW TO USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 3-13


ADOBE BUILDINGS, AIT-BEN-HADDOU, MOROCCO


THE BASIS OF NATURAL BUILDING IS THE NEED TO LESSEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BUILDINGS, WITHOUT SACRIFICING COMFORT, HEALTH OR HOW THEY LOOK. TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE, NATURAL BUILDING TECHNIQUES NORMALLY USE ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE, RENEWABLE, REUSED OR RECYCLED MATERIALS. THE MATERIALS COMMON TO MANY TYPES OF NATURAL BUILDING ARE CLAY AND SAND. WHEN MIXED WITH WATER AND USUALLY, STRAW THE MIXTURE IS CALLED COB OR ADOBE. OTHER MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN NATURAL BUILDING ARE: EARTH (AS RAMMED EARTH OR EARTH BAG), WOOD (CORDWOOD OR TIMBER FRAME/POST-AND-BEAM), STRAW, BAMBOO AND ROCK. A WIDE VARIETY OF REUSED OR RECYCLED MATERIALS ARE ALSO COMMON IN NATURAL BUILDING AND CAN INCLUDE TYRES, DISCARDED BOTTLES AND EVEN PAPER.

01

PART A - WHAT ARE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS?

A HOUSE CARVED OUT OF ROCK IN TURKEY



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C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied

and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else.

CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDINGS CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRODUCTION OF CEMENT, WHICH IS USED TO MAKE CONCRETE, REQUIRES AN ASTOUNDING AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND CAN RESULT IN WATER AND AIR POLLUTION AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE WHICH IS NOT USUALLY RECYCLED. USING NATURAL MATERIALS THAT REQUIRE MINIMAL PROCESSING OR REFINING CAN REDUCE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. USING NATURAL MATERIALS WHICH ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE CAN ALSO REDUCE COSTS AND POLLUTION ASSOCAITED WITH TRANSPORTATION. THEY CAN ALSO REDUCE THE TOXINS IN BUILDINGS WHICH ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL OR MAN-MADE PRODUCTS. AS AN ADDED BONUS, BUILDING WITH NATURAL PRODUCTS IS OFTEN INEXPENSIVE AND RELATIVELY EASY REQUIRING LITTLE CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE.

PART B - WHY USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS?

TRUCKS CARRYING MATERIALS TO A CONSTRUCTION SITE


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IN THIS INFORMATION PACK WE WILL LOOK AT TEN NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS WHICH ARE BEING USED TODAY AROUND THE WORLD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT ALL THE NATURAL BUILDING MATERAILS AVAILABLE AND MANY OTHERS EXIST.

PART C - HOW TO USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS?

ROCK EARTHBAGS STRAW BALES EARTHSHIPS BAMBOO EARTH-SHELTERED CORDWOOD COB RAMMED EARTH ADOBE


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Rock House, Nas Montanhas de Fafe, Portugal


ROCK

YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE STEEL, BRICKS OR CONCRETE TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUILD BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS USING LOCALLY AVAILABLE ROCKS. TRADITIONALLY IN SCOTLAND MANY BUILDINGS WERE CONSTRUCTED FROM ROCK BECAUSE IT WAS EASY TO FIND AND EXTREMELY DURABLE. THE ROCK WOULD BE SPLIT AND CARVED INTO BLOCKS AND THEN STUCK TOGETHER USING MORTAR.


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STRAW BALE HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

STRAW BALES CAN ACT AS STRUCTURAL BUILDING BLOCKS THEMSELVES OR AS A FILL FOR INSULATION IN A TRADITIONAL POST-AND-BEAM STRUCTURE. AFTER THE BALES ARE STACKED, THE WALLS ARE PLASTERED. THE THICK WALLS PROVIDE EXCELLENT INSULATION AND WHEN USED TO BUILD A HOUSE ARE ABOUT 75% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN A CONVENTIONAL HOME.

STRAW BALES


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OUTDOOR JAPANESE NOODLE RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTED FROM BAMBOO

BAMBOO

BAMBOO IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG WOOD AND ONE OF THE OLDEST BUILDING MATERIALS. IN ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA WHERE IT GROWS IN ABUNDANCE, IT IS OFTEN USED TO BUILD HOUSES AND EVEN ROADS AND BRIDGES. BAMBOO IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE BECAUSE IT’ IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PLANTS. HARVESTING BAMBOO DOES NOT AFFECT THE ROOTS WHICH CAN SPROUT NEW PLANTS IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS. ONE SPECIES OF BAMBOO GROWS 12CM A DAY. BAMBOO DOES HAVE TO BE TREATED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT IT’ IS WATERPROOF AND INSECT-RESISTANT AND IT REQUIRES SPECIAL BUILDING METHODS, PARTICULARLY IN JOINING DIFFERENT PIECES OF BAMBOO. HOWEVER BAMBOO IS AN EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE BUILDING MATERIAL BECAUSE IT CAN BEND AND IS DURABLE.


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CORDWOOD HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN MICHIGAN, USA

CORDWOOD

A CORDWOOD BUILDING USES WOOD THAT IS CUT INTO SHORT LENGTHS, ABOUT THE SIZE OF FIREWOOD, WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE. THE PIECES OF WOOD ARE STACKED UP AND LAID IN MORTAR SO THAT THE ENDS OF THE LOG CAN BE SEEN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WALL. CORDWOOD IS A NATURAL BUILDING MATERIAL THAT OFFERS BOTH GOOD INSULATION AND GOOD THERMAL MASS. THE LOGS PROVIDE THE INSULATION THAT KEEPS THE HEAT IN THE BUILDING AND THE MORTAR PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO STORE AND RELEASE THE HEAT INTO THE BUILDING.

CORDWOOD CONSTRUCTION METHOD

1 2 3


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NK’MIP CULTURAL CENTRE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

RAMMED EARTH

PEOPLE LIVE IN EARTHEN STRUCTURES BECAUSE OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LIKE WOOD ARE EITHER TOO EXPENSIVE OR NOT AVAILABLE. TO BUILD A RAMMED EARTH BUILDING, A MIXTURE OF TYPES AND COLOURS OF SOILS IS PACKED DOWN INTO A TEMPORARY WALL FORM (LIKE A TALL THIN EMPTY BOX WITHOUT A LID) THEN COMPRESSED BY “RAMMING”. THE FORM HAS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE COMPRESSION OF THE RAMMING. RAMMING CAN EITHER BE DONE BY HAND OR BY MACHINE AND ONCE COMPLETED, THE FORMS ARE REMOVED, LEAVING THE EARTHEN WALL. WHEN PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, RAMMED EARTH WALLS ARE EXTREMELY DURABLE AND ALSO PROVIDE ENERGY SAVINGS BECAUSE OF THEIR THERMAL MASS. SOME PARTS OF THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA ARE RAMMED EARTH WALLS AND ARE STILL STANDING!

RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION METHOD


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BASA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN NEPAL

EARTHBAGS

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN STACKED SANDBAGS USED FOR FLOOD BARRIERS OR MILITARY BUNKERS. THEY ARE USED FOR THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES BECAUSE THEY FORM STRONG AND STURDY WALLS. EARTHBAG BUILDINGS WHICH USE BAGS PACKED WITH EARTH AND STACKED LIKE BRICKS ARE SIMILARLY STRONG. WALLS ARE OFTEN PLASTERED TO ADD TO THEIR DURABILITY. TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT WALLS BUILT LIKE THIS CAN WITHSTAND SOME EARTHQUAKES AND THE ELEMENTS (WIND, RAIN AND SNOW).


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EARTHSHIP BUILDING IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO, USA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

EARTHSHIPS

IF YOU HAVE A COLLECTION OF OLD CAR TYRES LITTERING YOUR LANDSCAPE YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER BUILDING AN EARTHSHIP. EARTHSHIPS ARE CUTTING EDGE 'GREEN' BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTED USING WASTE CAR TYRES AND OTHER RECYCLED MATERIALS. TO BUILD AN EARTHSHIP, YOU FILL OLD CAR TYRES WITH EARTH AND STACK THEM LIKE BRICKS. WALLS CAN ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED USING CANS OR GLASS BOTTLES. THESE MATERIALS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE THROWN AWAY CAN BE ASSEMBLED TO SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE HEATING AND COOLING COSTS.


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EARTH SHELTERED HOUSE

EARTH SHELTERED

IT TURNS OUT THAT BILBO BAGGINS FROM “THE HOBBIT” HAD THE RIGHT IDEA! EARTH-SHELTERED BUILDINGS WHICH ARE PARTIALLY BUILT UNDERGROUND ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND FIRE RESISTANT. EARTH SHELTERED BUILDINGS CAN ALSO BE BUILT ABOVE GROUND WITH THE WALLS AND ROOF COVERED IN EARTH.


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COB WALL CONSTRUCTION METHOD

COB

COB IS A COMBINATION OF EARTH, WATER AND STRAW WHICH IS MIXED TOGETHER (USUALLY WITH YOUR FEET) TO FORM SHAPES THAT YOU MASH TOGETHER BY HAND TO FORM WALLS. COB IS AN OLD ENGLISH WORD MEANING ”A LUMP OR ROUNDED MASS”. WHEN BUILDING WITH COB YOU CAN BE VERY CREATIVE AND IT IS EASY TO INCORPORATE CURVY SHAPES AND SCULPTURAL FORMS. WHEN IT DRIES COB IS LIKE CONCRETE, THANKS TO THE REINFORCEMENT OF THE STRAW. BUILDING COB WALLS CAN BE VERY LABOUR INTENSIVE. HOWEVER WHEN COMPLETED THEY DO PROVIDE A GOOD THERMAL MASS WHICH COOLS THE BUILDING IN SUMMER AND WARMS IT IN WINTER.


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MANUFACTURING ADOBE BRICKS

ADOBE

ADOBE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF BUILDING WITH MANY EXAMPLES IN SOUTH AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA. ADOBE IS MADE BY POURING A MIX OF CLAY, SAND, WATER AND SOMETIMES STRAW INTO A FORM (NORMALLY A SQUARE SHAPE). THE CASTS ARE LEFT TO DRY IN THE SUN AND ONCE THE CASTS ARE REMOVED, THE MUD BRICKS ARE LEFT TO DRY SOME MORE. THIS CURING PROCESS CAN TAKE SOME TIME AND REQUIRES A CONTINOUSLY DRY CLIMATE SO THAT THE BRICKS CAN SOLIDIFY WITHOUT GETTING WET. ADOBE BRICKS ARE STACKED JUST LIKE CONVENTIONAL BRICKS AND TYPICALLY CONNECTED WITH MUD MORTAR. WHILE ADOBE WALLS ARE CHEAP AND EASY TO BUILD THEY ARE VULNERABLE TO MOISTURE AND USUALLY NEED LARGE ROOFS WITH OVERHANGS AND ELEVATED FOUNDATIONS IN WET CLIMATES.


CREATIVE SPACES INFORMATION PACK NINE

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