It is estimated that
today between 1/3 and 1/2 of the worlds' population live in earthern homes. And although there seems to be a new resurgence of interest in "building with the earth", it has actually been done for a long time - some structures still stand dating back 10,000 years. In Devon, England for example, there still stand some 20,000 cob-built structures, and in some middle-Eastern countries (such as in Yemen) this method of building has been used for centuries.
Today, earthen homes are built much like they have always been - from different combinations of materials such as earth, clay, sand, rock, gravel, and straw - which are mixed with water and then formed, usually into bricks, by hand. However, today we often use timber or steel framing as outer construction, which can then be filled in with straw bales for example, and then coated with a mixture of the above materials. Even old tires, earth-filled natural fiber bags, or recycled glass can be used as building materials.
Natural building involves an emphasis on building compactly, and concentrates on minimizing ones' "ecological footprint" on the Earth with a wide range of building systems and materials that place major emphasis on sustainability. Ways of achieving sustainability through natural building focus on durability, and the use of minimally-processed, abundantly-available, reused, recycled, salvaged, and plentiful or
renewable resources (an increasing focus), which produce healthy living environments and maintain indoor air quality.
Common with the construction of these structures, are on-site handling of energy acquisition (wind and solar power), on-site water capture (rain water), alternate sewage treatment (composting toilets, for example) and water reuse (or "gray water" - dish and/or laundry water for watering gardens for example). (More on these later.)
Natural building tends to be more labor-intensive than does building with the use of technology-based materials, but the results are homes made of natural materials that lessen the environmental impact (of buildings and other supporting systems) without sacrificing comfort, health, and most of all - aesthetics....
From this...
...to this...
Modern Cob-built home...
If you could build an "earth-friendly home", instead of building with prefabricated and non-renewable materials, would you do it?
If not...why not?
I have plans to!!
(Watch for threads detailing many building methods soon!!)
Earthen Homes: Could you live in one??
Quote:
I hear ya on that one!!!
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