Alternative Construction

The 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, construction techniques, and structural design principles for each method. More than 200 visuals depict both construction processes and completed structures. An extensive resource guide shows where to go for further information, training, and research. In an increasingly resource-conscious era, alternative construction is truly an idea whose time has come. Whether you're an architect, designer, student, or homeowner, this book will help you to combine indigenous building materials with modern construction systems and design standards to create low-impact, high-quality buildings that meet the highest levels of comfort, health, and safety.

Part 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