With a considerable part of my relatives still living in villages, I’m more than familiar with rammed earth homes. And what delights me more than anything else is the fact that the eco-goodness of these homes is now being realized in the developed world as well. Using ancient techniques to make man-made sedimentary rocks, the construction of rammed earth homes consist of several layers of prepared dirt (30% clay and 70% dirt) that are layered and packed in using man or machine power. Upon completion, the structure is totally water, fire, weather and rot proof with the material hardening like concrete. The structure is certainly a whole lot more energy efficient than wood or concrete structure too since the earth walls minimize temperature swings inside while making a great case for recycling at the same time.
Source: Trend Hunter
