The Rammed Earth House

by David Easton, Cynthia Wright (Photographer)

Overview

The Rammed Earth House is an eye-opening example of how the most dramatic innovations in home design and construction frequently have their origins in the distant past. By rediscovering the most ancient of all building materials —earth—forward-thinking homebuilders can now create structures that set new standards for beauty, durability, and efficient use of natural resources.

Rammed earth construction is a step forward into a sustainable future, when homes will combine pleasing aesthetics and intense practicality with a powerful sense of place. Rammed earth homes are built entirely on-site, using basic elements—earth, water, and a little cement. The solid masonry walls permit design flexibility while providing year-round comfort and minimal use of energy. The builder and resident of a rammed earth house will experience the deep satisfaction of creating permanence in a world dominated by the disposable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603581592
Publisher:	Chelsea Green Publishing
Publication date:	06/13/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	274
File size:	29 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

David Easton is the founder, along with Cynthia Wright, of Rammed Earth Works (REW Associates), a firm that over the past thirty years has designed and built more than 100 residential and commercial rammed earth structures around the world. They live in Napa, California. David blogs at terrashouse.rammedearthworks.com

Table of Contents

1. The evolution of earth building
2. The beginning : design and materials
3. The architectural plan
4. Preparing to build
5. Foundations
6. The essential soil
7. The art of form building
8. Soil preparation and compaction
9. Doors, windows, niches, and fireplaces
10. Bond beams and basic engineering principles
11. Insulated walls and mechanical systems
12. Roofs and floors, or, After the wall
13. The house in the garden

Editorial Reviews

"David has always been a pioneer, and I'm particularly excited about his work bringing rammed earth as an appropriate technology to areas of the developing world. Guided by David's team, rural communities build structures far more permanent and energy efficient than any they had before."--Mike Korchinsky, Founder and CEO, Wildlife Works, Inc.

"I find great hope in David Easton's description of ways to meld the environmentally friendly with the aesthetically satisfying. And I find inspiration in his very practical advice on making these beautiful blends of earth and air a part of our lives. Architecture defines us, and helps us to find meaning in the very structures we call our homes. This book is a must read for all interested in blending spirituality with practicality."--J. Kalani English, Hawaii State Senator

"David Easton is an essential figure in the world of earthen architecture, both in the field and on paper. Through his work and books, Easton brings a practical answer to the Brundtland statement on sustainable development. He has proven beyond doubt that earthen architecture is a viable option for Our Common Future."--Hugo Houben, International Centre for Earth Construction, Grenoble, France

"David Easton's book is a definitive account of the art and technology of rammed earth construction. Architects, builders, and home-owners interested in earth construction methods should start here." -John Ochsendorf, PhD Associate Professor of Building Technology MIT Department of Architecture

From the Publisher