Upscaling Earth: Material, Process, Catalyst

Abstract

Earth building is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most modern construction methods of our time. What economic, environmental, and social conditions are necessary to make this building method more attractive? In the future, cement – the most important component of concrete – will, like other finite resources, become less viable to produce and significantly more expensive. Considering appropriate alternatives for building materials is imperative. This book presents a wide range of built and unbuilt projects as well as strategies for architecture using earth materials – a construction method that can be adapted to every culture and context. The authors give impressive examples to demonstrate groundbreaking technological innovations that highlight the advantages of this material, from its worldwide availability to its potential for complete recycling and climate-neutral production. The book also includes a focus on socially just implementation, in particular in emerging economies. This book reveals the incredible potential of earthen architecture – for people and for the entire planet.

Reclaiming earth blocks using various techniques

“…In research and practice, earth construction resurfaces as a sustainable response to the excessive deployment of conventional building materials such as concrete, steel and bricks [1,2]. Earth blocks, composed of locally available resources such as loam, sand, and aggregates, are increasingly manufactured by revalorising excavated soils from urban infrastructure or construction sites [3].…”

Sustainable Analysis of Cement-Stabilized Rammed Earth Construction in Rural Areas: A Case Study in Southeast China

“…An analysis of the historical progression of earthen architecture revealed that each method of constructing with earth is a response to a specific social setting and the prevailing circumstances of that era [4][5][6][7]. However, in the past, most people in Asia and Africa, where most of the population is engaged in agriculture, strongly associated earthen buildings with poverty and backwardness, preferring industrialized materials such as cement and steel [5,8]. Ever since man began choosing industrialized materials over nature-based construction there has been drastic resource depletion and climate crisis.…”

“…Thus, Heringer et al summarize the years of practice and research on rammed earth construction and pose the central question "Who is profile?" [8]. The renowned American economist Jeremy Rifkin predicts an imminent end to wage labor in industrial production, as intelligent technologies surpass the cost efficiency of human labor worldwide.…”

“…Considering this transformative shift, Rifkin emphasized the need for innovative solutions to overcome the challenges posed by the decline in mass labor. Conversely, by reassessing its priorities, the construction industry offers the promise of addressing the increasing demand for work and wage labor in the future [8]. The main advantage of expanding earthen construction lies in its ability to effectively meet these demands while maintaining a balance between labor, production costs, embodied energy, water consumption, and resource transportation, thus promoting equity.…”

Challenges to upscale earth block masonry in Western Europe from a life cycle perspective

“…Especially for interior non-loadbearing applications, earth may have a higher upscaling potential since it is protected from the elements and its mechanical performance is less demanding. Based on many years of practical experience, [6] presents a roadmap for upscaling earth construction in which the perceived vulnerability and labour-intensive process of earth construction and the lack of norms and education are the primary challenges to overcome. However, research about inter-and intrarelationships between barriers and drivers is lacking to confirm this statement [5].…”