Using nature-friendly material from the local
area.
If we can build a house with natural material which
can be obtained
locally, we can save the energy which is used to produce modern
construction materials and need not worry about their disposal. We also
do not have to spend any energy for the transportation of material.
By using natural materials, no pollution is produced.
At this
experimental house we use a natural air ventilation system with
cool tubes. For its efficiency, during the extreme seasons, we need
good thermal insulation, large heat capacity and air tightness. In
order to achieve this, the walls are cobbed on a 2x4 structure and a
part of the roof is thatched. Rain on the roof is collected and used
for drinking water.
There are several inexpensive ways to
construct earth buildings-such as
adobe construction or rammed earth. We must check seismic safety, and
reinforce the walls with bamboo net which has bending resistance. These
old ways should be preserved and even developed further, before they
get destroyed by modern construction methods using a lot of fossil
energy.
(2-1)
Cobbed
walls
(2-2) Thatched
roof
(2-3)
Rain water
for drinking
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