Down to Earth: Rammed Earth Architecture

A colour illustrated study of some thirty houses in various rural environments which have been built or converted or rehabilitated for modern comfortable living. "Rammed earth is a wall building technique that uses earth, chalk, lime and gravel as raw materials. It is an ancient building method that has experienced a renaissance in recent years as people seek greener and more sustainable building materials and natural construction methods. Rammed earth walls are simple to construct, non-combustible, thermally massive, strong and durable. However, they can be labour-intensive to construct without machinery and are susceptible to water damage if not properly protected or maintained. Rammed earth buildings are found on almost every continent, in a range of environments including the temperate and humid regions of northern Europe, semi-arid deserts, mountain and country areas and the tropics. The availability of usable soil and a building design suited to local climatic conditions are factors favouring their use. This book is a compilation of the most relevant international examples of this interesting building technique.