Description
Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive guide to combining traditional natural materials and modern construction methods.
From adobe to straw bales, traditional building materials are being adapted to meet code-required standards for health and safety in contemporary buildings around the world. Not only are they cost effective and environmentally friendly, but, when used correctly, these natural alternatives match the strength and durability of many mainstream construction materials.
This book examines a broad range of traditional and modern natural construction methods, including straw-bale, light-clay, cob, adobe, rammed earth and pise, earthbag, earth-sheltered, bamboo, and hybrid systems. It also covers key ecological design principles, as well as current engineering and building code requirements.
Experts on each building system have contributed core chapters that explore the history, development, climatic appropriateness, environmental benefits, performance characteristics, con
Trade Review"provides a useful insight into the various natural materials and building methods that are used in Europe and the States." (UK Landlord, March 2007)
Table of ContentsPart I. DESIGN PRINCIPLES
1. Introduction
The Natural Building Movement 3
Lynne Elizabeth
The Realities of Specifying Environmental Building Materials 9
Cassandra Adams
2. A New Context for Building Codes and Regulation 19
David Eisenberg
3. Natural Conditioning of Buildings 37
Ken Haggard, Polly Cooper, and Jennifer Rennick with assistance from Phil Niles
4. Structural Properties of Alternative Building Materials 71
Bruce King, P.E.
PART II. SYSTEMS AND MATERIALS
5. Adobe 87
Michael Moquin
6. Cob 117
Michael Smith
7. Rammed Earth 151
David Easton
8. Modular Contained Earth
Earthbag 175
Joseph Kennedy and Paulina Wojciechowska with special acknowledgment of the work of Nader Khalili
Earth-RammedTires 190
Michael Reynolds
9. Light Clay 195
Robert Laporte and Frank Andresen with special acknowledgment of the work of Franz Volhard
10. Straw-Bale 209
Kelly Lerner, Bob Theis, and Dan Smith
11. Bamboo 235
Darrel DeBoer and Karl Bareis
12. Earthen Finishes
Earth Plasters 255
Carole Crews
Earth Floors 264
Bill and Athena Steen
Part III. APPLICATIONS
13. Integrated Systems with Rammed Earth
Charles Sturt University, Thurgoona Campus,
New South Wales, Australia 273
Marci Webster-Mannison
14. Straw, Clay, and Carrizo
Obregon Project, Northern Mexico 283
Bill and Athena Steen
15. Light-Clay House Additions
School/Residence in Wisconsin 297
Lou Host-Jablonski, AIA
16. Variations on Earthbag
The HoneyHouse—Moab, Utah 309
Kaki Hunter and Doni Kiffmeyer
Residences in Arizona and Wisconsin 313
Dominic Howes
Sandbag House, RumCay Island, Bahamas 315
Steve Kemble and Carol Escott
17. The Value of Indigenous Ways
Habitat for Humanity International 323
C. Wayne Nelson
18. Building Technology Transfer
Raising Straw-BaleHousing for Farmworkers in California 333
Kelly Lerner, Dan Smith, and Bob Theis
Introduction of Straw-Bale Construction to Mongolia and China 339
Kelly Lerner
Epilogue
Finding the Soul of Natural Building 357
Tom Bender
Appendix A
Recommended References 365
Appendix B
Alternative Construction Resource Centers 375
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS 381
INDEX 387
