Rammed Earth or Taipa is an ECO Friendly method of construction which is gaining popularity for its energy efficiency strength and durability. In past when ECO Friendly housing was not chic but a survival mechanism Rammed Earth Houses were build all over the planet for there insulation against weather. Using raw materials of earth, chalk, lime and gravel Tapia is a truly ECO Friendly method of construction that results into beautiful energy efficient houses that are also considered to be breathing structures.
Along with being ECO Friendly and energy efficient rammed earth houses are also A grade water, weather, fire and rot proof. Rammed Earth construction is based on ancient art of compressing damp earth mixture into a frame or mold of a wall.
- Rammed Earth Houses are sustainable because they are constructed from locally available materials.
- Rammed Earth Houses releases very little heat in there construction process compared to cement which makes ECO Friendly.
- Rammed Earth Houses needs little maintenance against weather damage making it a sustainable alternate to wood.
- Rammed Earth Houses is ECO Friendly and sustainable due to its energy efficiency, the insulation against the out side's environment in Rammed Earth Houses is remarkable, considerable temperature difference can be attained with little passive ventilation in these houses.
- Rammed Earth House are a great non polluting low cost sustainable housing solution for third world countries.
- Rammed Earth Houses can be heated with passive use of solar energy and because Rammed Earth Houses have excellent insulation so the benefits of trapped solar energy can be enjoyed for a longer time period.
Types of Rammed Earth constructions:
- STABILIZED RAMMED EARTH: These walls are 300 or 400mm thick with high thermal mass. They are ideal for internal walling or external walling that does not require a high R-value.
- INSULATED STABILISED RAMMED EARTH: These walls are 400mm thick with a 50mm Styrofoam insert.Walls are structurally integrated using patented Earth Structures stainless steel bridging pins. These walls achieve a 2.48 R-value. They are useful for achieving higher external wall R-value levels.
- ELEVATED STABILISED RAMMED EARTH. These are built as pre-rammed panels and lifted in place using technologies similar to concrete pre-cast panels. They are specifically for buildings with difficult access.
Famous Rammed Earth Buildings:
- Parts of Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain (shown) and the Potala Palace in Lhasa are built from Rammed Earth.
- Parts of Great Wall of China are made out of Rammed Earth.
- Fujian Tulou is a unique Chinese Rammed Earth building of the Hakka people in the mountainous areas in southwestern Fujian, China.
- West Africa, Mali, Mopti mosque is one of the largest Rammed Earth structures.
- Aït Benhaddou is a large Rammed Earth ksar situated on a caravan route between the Sahara desert and Marrakech. In 1987 the ksar became a UNESCO world heritage site.
