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Natural Building Construction

The document discusses natural building construction techniques that use local and renewable materials to lessen environmental impact. It describes vernacular architecture as evolving over time based on the local environment and traditions. Various traditional natural building methods are presented from different regions, including cob, adobe, and bamboo construction. Specific details are provided on constructing with adobe blocks, cob mixtures, treating and joining bamboo, as well as traditional styles from places like Scotland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

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487 views

Natural Building Construction

The document discusses natural building construction techniques that use local and renewable materials to lessen environmental impact. It describes vernacular architecture as evolving over time based on the local environment and traditions. Various traditional natural building methods are presented from different regions, including cob, adobe, and bamboo construction. Specific details are provided on constructing with adobe blocks, cob mixtures, treating and joining bamboo, as well as traditional styles from places like Scotland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

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NaturalBuildingConstruction

BuildingGreenDeCeuvel,Amsterdam,NL June26th,2015

SilviaNeriLLC Architecture&PermacultureDesign silvianeridesign.com

WhatisaNaturalBuilding?
Anaturalbuildinginvolvesarangeofbuildingsystemsand
materialstolessentheenvironmentalimpact without
sacrificingcomfortorhealth.
Useofabundantlyavailable,renewable,reusedorrecycled
materials:e.g.clay,sand,straw,earth,wood,bamboo,stone.
Avoidpolluting/toxicwoodpreservatives,portland cement
basedmixes,VOCpaints,harmfulplasticslikePVCorvinyl.
Minimizeecologicalfootprintbydesign:orientationofa
building,naturalventilationandlight,onsitehandlingof
energyacquisition,onsitewatercapture,alternative
sewagetreatmentandwaterreuse.
Lowcost
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TraditionalVernacularArchitecture
VernacularArchitectureDefinition:
Architecturebasedonlocalneeds,constructionmaterialsand
reflectinglocaltraditions.Ittendstoevolveovertimetoreflectthe
environmental,cultural,technological,economic,andhistorical
contextinwhichitexists.

Itmakesaplaceuniqueandcharming,itcreatesasenseof
belongingwithintheresidentshonoringthelocaltraditions.
Itisbasedontheobservationofthespecificlocalconditions.
Ittakesadvantageoflocallyavailablematerial.
Itrespondstospecificclimateconditions.
Itrespectsthesurroundingenvironment,merging
intoitwithoutdestruction.
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TRADITIONALCOBCONSTRUCTION:MoroccoDesert

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CACTUSCONSTRUCTION:Guahira Desert,Colombia

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NATURALPALMROOFS,CentralAmerica

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NATURALPALMANDTIMBERCONSTRUCTION,CentralAmerica

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BAMBOOCONSTRUCTION,Bali/Asia

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LOGCONSTRUCTION,NorthAmerica

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BLACKHOUSECONSTRUCTION:Scottland,UK
TheScottishblackhouses arebuilton
clay wherethebasestones ofthewall
standonpebbles toprevent
movement[1].
Thethickinsulatedwallsofthehome
arebuiltfromtwolayersofdrystone
withaninfillofpeat [2]toppedoff
withalayerofclay topreventwater
gettingintothewallandthencapped
withturf whichabsorbsanyexcess
water[3].
Thetimbersofthehomewere
generallymadefromdriftwood andin
somecaseswhalebone[4].Overthe
timberroofalayerofturfwasplaced
butleavinganunturfedregiononthe
ridgeoftherooftoallowsmokefrom
thecentralfire[5]toescapethrough
theoatstrawthatch[6]
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TRADITIONALFARMHOUSEDUTCHCONSTRUCTION
The Dutch brick is made
from clay dug from river
banks and fired over a
long period of time.
Itwasknownforits
durabilityand
appearance.

The traditional Dutch


thatched roofs are
made of reed yearlings.
Reed has been used for
centuries as a roofing
especially on steep
roofs of 45 degrees or
more.

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TRULLI,Alberobello,Italy

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BERMUDA

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PalletHouses

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SHIPPINGCONTAINERSUPCYCLING

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OLDHOUSEBOATS,Amsterdam DeCeuvel,NL

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SelectedTechniques:
Adobe:clayandsandmixedwithwater,
oftenchoppedstraworsimilarfibersare
added.Usuallyadobeisshapedintobricks.

Cob:amonolithicbuildingsystembasedon
amixtureofclay,sand,strawandearth.

Bamboo:someofthefastestgrowing
plantsintheworld,greatercompressive
strengththanwood,similartensilestrengthto
steel.
SilviaNeriLLC Architecture&PermacultureDesign silvianeridesign.com

AdobeConstruction

Adobemudblocksareoneoftheoldestandmostwidelyusedbuilding
materials.Theuseofthesesundriedblocksdatesbackto8000B.C.
Blockandbricksaremadeof:
1partofCLAY:withhighqualityclaynoneedforcementorlime.
About2partsofSAND:exactquantitytobetestedbefore!
WATER:addslowlyuntilyoureachayogurtconsistency
DRYSTRAW:~812long:samevolumeasclay+sand+watermix

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AdobeConstruction

Iftheresnoclayyoucanusethesoilfrom.5munderwithnoorganic
matter,mix:10%cement,10%lime,80%soil
Wetformsbeforeuse,makesuretheyareeasytodisassemble
Letbrickdryinthesunfor23daysor45daysingreenhouse
Wetbricksbeforelaying,fillthegapswithcobasmortar
Curvedturnsaremoreresistantthanstraightangles

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CobConstruction

Excellentthermalmass,butnotthebestinsulationinextremeweather,
bettertousestrawbalethen
SameingredientsasinAdobe,itcanbewithorwithoutstraw
Typesofcobwalls:

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BambooConstruction

Guadua bamboo(darkgreen)andDendrocalamus bamboo(pale


green/grey)arethestrongestspecies
Selectionprocess:nodesareclosertothebottom,wallsarethickeratthe
bottom.
Cutrightabovethenode

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BambooConstruction

Treatments
Toavoidprematurerottingandattackofinsects
Cutthroughnodeswitharebartoreleasewaterinside,butitlooses~10%
strength
Cuttheculmandleaveitintheclampforoneyear
PlaceculminBoraxacidwithin20minaftercutforaweeksoitdrinksit.Then
letdryfor6weeks
UsevaporizedandpressuredBorax,thenletitdryfor13mo

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BambooConstruction

Joints

FishMouth
Notchatrafters
Bamboonails

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ReferenceLiterature
TheBarefootArchitectbyJohanvanLengen
TheArtofNaturalBuildingbyJosephKennedy

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MoreInfo:
www.silvianeridesign.com
Facebook:TheGood&GreenLife
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