DOCSLIB.ORG

Hempcrete a Beginners Guide to This Up-And-Coming Wall- Building Technique

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hempcrete a Beginners Guide to This Up-And-Coming Wall- Building Technique Hempcrete A beginners guide to this up-and-coming wall- building technique French 8-Story Straw Bale Colorado Light Clay-Straw More Japanese Natural Building Mesh - How And Why We Use It On Bale Structures $10.00 USD Issue #64 Summer 2014 On the cover: PUBLISHER Odisea LLC EDITOR Jeff Ruppert ISSUE LAYOUT Satomi Lander WEB HOST Sustainable Sources GRAPHICS Morninglori Graphic Design PRINTER Publication Printers A new-build hempcrete house under construction Photo by Alex Sparrow The Last Straw is a quarterly journal documenting Submission Guidelines the natural building world. It was formed in 1993 to Copy should be created using Times New Roman address the lack of public information about straw font, 11 pt, no bold, no colors, no underlining except bale construction and has grown to cover all related for web sites, and no indentations for paragraphs. topics. We are reader-supported, meaning we rely Don’t take time to reformat copy you receive from on raw stories from the field. others; we can do that here. We’ve set up some format, spelling and other rules we could share upon request. The Last Straw is produced quarterly. For subscriptions and address changes, back issue Word Count – with 30 pt heading orders, printing and distribution, promotion, • 900 words fills one page classified advertising and the calendar of events • 500 words with two photos fills one page please visit our website at thelaststraw.org. • 700 words with one photo fills one page • 1000 words with two photos fills two pages Donated articles and photographs are always and sincerely welcome on any topic relating to straw- If several photos are used in an article and captions are bale and natural building. Letters to the Editor are added to the photos, the space for text will be reduced also encouraged. Remember, your input is what accordingly. keeps TLS up-to-date, functional and relevant! We work with offerings respectfully, though we may Submission Deadlines have to edit, postpone or decline their use. The Last December 1, March 1, June 1 and September 1. Please Straw team reserves editorial responsibility for the note that the story deadlines are important to our content of the journal. production schedule. Text and photos may be sent by surface mail or electronically to the TLS editorial TLS Editorial Office office. For complete submission guidelines for articles Jeff Ruppert and photos, see our web site at thelaststraw.org. Editor PO Box 1809 Contact the editorial office for information and input Paonia CO 81428 regarding issue topics and content development, (970) 704-5828 ideas for articles and issue design and other advice, [email protected] encouragement, complaint or controversy. © The Last Straw The Last Straw is printed entirely on recycled content ISSN# 1077-997332. paper, using soy-based inks. Inside Editor’s Note CONTENTS Summer is upon us and that means everyone is busy on everyone answer this question for their upcoming projects. The their projects. While the economy hit most of us hard in recent answer as to what is the best way to orient bales (flat or on-edge) 5 Editor’s Note years it seems things are picking up if the level of activity in is not really clear and concise. As with anything else it seems to natural building is any indication. The types and scales of various depend on a variety of factors. We hope you will find value in the 6 Rediscovering Lime in Costa Rica natural building projects around the world is truly amazing and responses, which were too long to re-print here. We have provided by Ryan Chivers seems to be on a widening trend. We are excited to share this latest a link to the full report and invite you to find the article on our issue, which exemplifies the diversity of natural building. Such website and comment further to continue the conversation. 12 Jules Ferry Residence diversity is deserving of the “natural” title. by Jeff Ruppert This leads me to our regular reminder of the TLS website. We Materials and feature projects seem to dominate this issue. On publish all of the articles found here online as we edit them. Some The Benefits of Using Welded Wire Mesh 15 the materials side we have two excellent pieces on the use of lime of them are restricted to subscribers, which means you have access by Andrew Morrison in the trades. Ryan Chivers returns and shares his experience to all of them, including past content that has been printed since in Costa Rica, sourcing and experimenting with local lime for a our revival earlier this year. This body of content will only grow. More Straw Building in Japan 18 recent workshop at Rancho Mastatal. Hemp is the new friend of What you can’t find in the printed version of TLS are the high- by Kyle Holzhueter lime in this issue. As the first part of a two-part series, hempcrete resolution images within each article where you can really see 23 Building with Hempcrete (hemp-lime): (or hemp-lime) is back on our pages with a more in-depth look details that are not always apparent in the magazine. Our website 6 Essential Tips for the Beginner (Part 1) by practitioner Alex Sparrow. Because hemp is an industrial crop is just as important to our survival as the printed compilation by Alex Sparrow in the UK, they are pushing forward, using hemp in all sorts of we refer to as the magazine. We hope you find both useful and interesting configurations, and generously sharing their experience. informative. 29 Light Clay-Straw Mountain Home Look for The Hempcrete Book: Designing and building with by Jeff Ruppert hemp-lime by Alex due out in October, and look for the follow-up As always, if there is something you would like to see changed or article in Issue #65. And there is a gift for those of you interested if you want to see us cover something of interest, let me know and 33 CASBA Rides Again! in buying the book. Read the details at the end of the article and we’ll bring it to you. Calling for All Bicyclists for 2015 and you’ll be able to receive a 30% discount if you pre-order by the end of October. Beyond In international news New Zealand has announced it will host the next International Straw Building Conference (ISBC) in 2016, Here in the U.S. we have some hope of industrial hemp, but much 34 Bale Orientation within Walls and Australia will host their annual conference in Adelaide in work still needs to happen to make this a reality. Hempcrete could September of this year. You can find both events listed on the back be a big part of our future if we could only free the fiber. 36 Book Review: cover of this issue and on our website in our events calendar. We Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to hope to see you there. Our regular contributors, Kyle Holzhueter and Andrew Morrison, an Ancient Practice share their work and insights in Asian natural building and why we Finally, We would like to welcome CASBA members as use mesh on our bale walls, respectively. Kyle’s ongoing series 39 Classifieds subscribers of TLS. CASBA has subscribed their entire 23 on Asia continues with Japan and the unique use of tatami mats in membership, which supports our work and ensures their members wall construction. As in previous issues, we are treated to insight Events and Human Resources on the are receiving the best in natural building. We offer reduced and experimentation not found anywhere else but in the pages of back cover subscription rates to associations so if you are part of one contact TLS. us and we’ll get your members signed up. We feature another light clay-straw home here in Colorado. This With that I’ll let you get on to enjoying this issue. We look one is a great example of beautiful architecture and thoughtful forward to bringing you the next issue in October. And remember, decision-making by a couple who were able to take their time send us your articles or pictures of projects so we can follow up during both the design and construction processes. The results are and share them with everyone. I challenge everyone in all regions stunning, which complement the breathtaking view of the Rocky of the world to see who can be most represented in these pages. Mountains. We look forward to hearing from everyone. The views expressed by our authors do not necessarily To wrap up the issue we give you the results of our survey on bale represent our own. We retain the right to edit, change All the best on your next project! orientation. We asked our website visitors to answer a few short or refuse to print submitted content. All submissions -Jeff Ruppert become the property of The Last Straw. And remember, questions about how they prefer to stack bales on their projects. safety is of the highest priority on construction projects. We received nearly 50 thoughtful responses which should help 29 The Last Straw • No. 64 Summer 2014 5 Materials Materials and sold in huge quantities, and so is almost always sourced relatively locally. This report will focus on lime technology as it relates to building construction. The main uses will be formulations for plasters, stuccos and mortars for masonry. Two related raw materials will be covered. The first one is hydrated lime, which has been fired in a kiln and slaked with water.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Initial Evidence of Plant and Animal-Origin Organic Additives from the Second-Century Bce Earthen Plaster of Rock-Cut Caves of Karla, India**
    bs_bs_banner Archaeometry ••, •• (2019) ••–•• doi: 10.1111/arcm.12522 INITIAL EVIDENCE OF PLANT AND ANIMAL-ORIGIN ORGANIC ADDITIVES FROM THE SECOND-CENTURY BCE EARTHEN PLASTER OF ROCK-CUT CAVES OF KARLA, INDIA** B. DIGHE and M. R. SINGH† Department of Conservation, National Museum Institute, Janpath, Delhi, 110011, India Analytical investigations through phytochemical screening, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and light microscopic observation of the earthen plaster of Karla Caves of western India identified the presence of antifungal, antibacterial and insect repellent Careya arborea stem fibres as a vegetal additive. The scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) study also revealed the inclusion of rice (Oryza sativa) husk as a plant additive in the plaster. In the high rain-fed coastal regions of western India, the an- timicrobial, antioxidant and termite-resistance properties of C. arborea helped the survival of the plaster in unfavourable climatic conditions. Besides, the C. arborea and rice husk together played a role in reducing cracks, decreasing the density, and imparting a plasticity and a du- rability to the plaster. The liquid Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) of organic extracts revealed carboxylic acid (fatty acids)-based additives in the earthen plaster. From the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the plaster, the presence of animal milk fat, animal and vegetable fat, and vegetable oil was identified, and probably used to strengthen the earthen plaster for their resistance to tensile stress. The analysis also diag- noses the inclusion of methyl commate B, a resinous material obtained from the Burseraceae plant family, which has antimicrobial properties, through GC-MS analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • STRAW-BALE AS a VIABLE, COST EFFECTIVE, and SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL for USE in SOUTHEAST OHIO a Thesis Presented to the F
    STRAW-BALE AS A VIABLE, COST EFFECTIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL FOR USE IN SOUTHEAST OHIO A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science Leanne R. Marks June 2005 This thesis entitled STRAW-BALE AS A VIABLE COST EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL FOR USE IN SOUTHEAST OHIO by LEANNE R. MARKS has been approved for the Program of Environmental Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences by Christopher Boone Associate Professor of Geography Leslie A. Flemming Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Marks, Leanne R. M.S. June 2005. Environmental Studies. Straw-Bale as a Viable, Cost Effective, and Sustainable Building Material for use in Southeast Ohio. (118pp.) Director of Thesis: Christopher Boone In Southeast Ohio, the humidity is relatively high all year round; the maximum monthly average humidity readings exceeded 80% during the ten months of sampling. Precipitation levels, and its’ effect on moisture accumulation within straw-bale walls, had been a concern to individuals skeptical about the use of straw-bales as a viable building material. Athens County, Ohio, is located within the Appalachian region, a poverty stricken region that desperately requires livable, affordable housing. Throughout this document, it becomes evident that straw-bale construction is in fact, a viable, cost effective and sustainable and safe building method for use in southeast Ohio. Within the study the moisture content of three Athens County straw-bale homes were recorded during a ten-month period (Dec. 2001–Sept.
    [Show full text]
  • EARTHEN Natural Clay Plaster Can Also Help Moderate Temperature Swings - Wall Surfaces Remain Cool in Summer and Warm in Winter
    NATURAL CLAY PLASTER - Adj. earthen - made of earth Clay as a construction material has been around for thousands of years. We have recognised these age old benefits, combined these with modern manufacturing, application, and colouring techniques to provide some very special qualities to enhance your living environment. Ideally suited for high comfort, modern buildings and historic building refurbishment. EARTHEN is a breathing surface in that it assists in regulating both humidity and temperature by absorbing and releasing vapour. It makes rooms more tolerable in humid weather, and when the weather becomes drier it releases moisture into the room helping to improve the air quality. EARTHEN is a hard, durable surface that can be repaired when damaged, re-surfaced and even completely recycled. If a colour change is required to update an interior you can maintain all the benefits of the EARTHEN plaster by simply painting with EARTHEN clay paint. EARTHEN Natural Clay plaster can also help moderate temperature swings - wall surfaces remain cool in summer and warm in winter. The more clay used in a room the greater the beneficial effects including acoustic. EARTHEN Clay is a natural product available in almost every corner of the earth, contains no VOC’s or cements. It is composed of fine white china clay, silica sands, and natural binders. This is then mixed with water to create a workable material for plastering. EARTHEN FEATURES v A more environmentally friendly choice than traditional gypsum plaster. v A 100% natural, breathable material. v Material naturally absorbs odours. v Mould resistant. v Natural properties are anti allergenic.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scope of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) Use in Historical Conservation in India
    Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 17(2), April 2018, pp. 314-321 The scope of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) use in Historical conservation in India M Singh 1*, Divija Mamania2 & Vasant Shinde3 1National Museum Institute, Janpath, New Delhi-110 011, India; 2IITian’s Pace and Pace Junior Science College, Mumbai-400 028, India; 3Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune-411 006, India E-mail: [email protected] Received 22 September 2017, revised 11 December 2017 Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) has preserved the ancient artwork in India’s sacred Ellora Caves for 1500 years. The long life of earthen plaster of Ellora, despite damaging environmental parameters, may be attributed to the material properties of hemp which is fibrous and durable as studied through stereo and scanning electron microscope. The properties of Cannabis sativa (hemp) including its ability to repel insects and regulate humidity must have been known to the ancient Indian technicians in 6th CE. Moreover, Cannabis has an excellent carbon dioxide sequestering capacity and is green house negative and these properties were exploited by ancient Indians in cave murals of Ellora. The finding could be applied in future construction technology, as well as conservation of historical structures, where more sustainable materials are being sought. However, it would be illegal in places where Cannabis is banned. The numerous useful properties of hemp can also be exploited for several environmental friendly applications. This paper deliberates upon the utilization of this plant from the ancient period to its present use to regulate green house impact. Keywords: Cannabis sativa L., Shiv, Greenhouse, Conservation IPC Int.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Finishes Overview
    Page 1 Natural Finishes Overview Natural plasters and finishes are a great alternative to the conventional finishing products that are available on the market. The ones that are just riddled with toxic chemicals! Most people don’t even realize the negative effects that these products have on their health. Indoor air pollution and toxic off gassing is a whole subject unto itself. But by using natural plasters and paints, you avoid the added toxicity of cement stucco, drywall, chemical paints, and the destructive industry that produces them all. Natural plasters and finishes can be applied to cob walls or even to drywall board! The majority of natural plasters and finishes are made from a combination of these simple ingredients: Clay, sand, straw, lime, kaolin clay, wheat paste, pigments, and water. Copyright 2015 - This Cob House LLC - All Rights Reserved Page 2 Plastering your cob home is like putting the icing on the cake. Once you have built your walls, built your roof, and installed the windows and doors then you can begin to plaster your building. The plaster will protect your walls from rain on the outside, and it will protect your cob walls from any crumbling off on the inside. A good foundation and a good roof overhang (a good hat and boots, as they say) will protect your cob home from most weather and rain. Some people decide not to plaster the exterior walls of their cob homes and they are fine in many cases, but you will still get deterioration. It is recommended to plaster your walls to protect them from driving rain and frost.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic England Practical Building Conservation
    HISTORIC ENGLAND PRACTICAL BUILDING CONSERVATION EARTH, BRICK & TERRACOTTA 0 Prelims PART A.indd 1 07/09/2015 17:37 © Historic England 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Historic England has asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author and editor of this work. Historic England 1 Waterhouse Square 138–142 Holborn London EC1N 2ST Published by Ashgate Publishing Limited Ashgate Publishing Company Wey Court East Suite 420 Union Road 101 Cherry Street Farnham Burlington Surrey GU9 7PT VT 05401-4405 England USA www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Control Number: 2009925645 ISBN-13: 9780754645535 0 Prelims PART A.indd 2 09/09/2015 03:45 A: ii Notes oN Volume editors & CoNtributors Volume Editors: Alison Henry (Earth), Iain McCaig (Brick), Clara Willett and Sophie Godfraind (Terracotta), John Stewart (General Introduction, Tiles) The volume editors are all members of Historic England's Building Conservation and Research Team. Alison Henry is a former conservation officer, and has practical experience as a stone conservator, but also has a special interest in earthen construction. She was an editor for the Mortars, Renders & Plasters, Stone and Roofing volumes in this series. Iain McCaig studied architecture before specialising in building conservation and has many years of experience, working in local authority, private practice and within Historic England.
    [Show full text]
  • Testing and Evaluation of Soil Based Grouts for the Adhesion of Consolidated and Un-Consolidated Painted Lime Plaster at the Mission San José De Tumacácori
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 2017 Testing and Evaluation of Soil Based Grouts for the Adhesion of Consolidated and Un-Consolidated Painted Lime Plaster at the Mission San José de Tumacácori Nicole M. Declet Díaz University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Declet Díaz, Nicole M., "Testing and Evaluation of Soil Based Grouts for the Adhesion of Consolidated and Un-Consolidated Painted Lime Plaster at the Mission San José de Tumacácori" (2017). Theses (Historic Preservation). 619. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/619 Suggested Citation: Declet Díaz, Nicole (2017). Testing and Evaluation of Soil Based Grouts for the Adhesion of Consolidated and Un- Consolidated Painted Lime Plaster at the Mission San José de Tumacácori. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/619 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Testing and Evaluation of Soil Based Grouts for the Adhesion of Consolidated and Un-Consolidated Painted Lime Plaster at the Mission San José de Tumacácori Abstract The interior decorative painting at Mission San Jose de Tumacácori is a rare survival of late 18th century- early 19th century artistic traditions of northern Sonora and the Kino mission churches. Despite earlier attempts to stabilize these finishes, the original painted lime plaster has continued ot detach from the adobe substrate. Previous techniques to stabilize the paintings began with research by J. Rutherford Gettens in 1949-1952 and subsequent attempts in 1984 to reattach detached plaster have proven ineffective.
    [Show full text]
  • Build a Cob House a Step-By-Step Guide
    Build a Cob House A Step-By-Step Guide Copyright © 2013 by Alex Sumerall Page 1 www.thiscobhouse.com Table of Contents Introduction......................................................................................................................... 5 How, and By Whom, Should My Cob Building Be Built?............................................. 5 Characteristics of Cob Homes ........................................................................................ 8 Cob Home Concepts ................................................................................................... 8 Cob Home Advantages ............................................................................................... 9 Common Questions About Cob.................................................................................... 10 Site Selection .................................................................................................................... 12 Design ............................................................................................................................... 14 Materials and Tools........................................................................................................... 21 Selecting and Testing Soils........................................................................................... 21 Sand........................................................................................................................... 23 Clay..........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Indian Techniques for Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Decorative Earthen Plasters of Karla and Bhaja Caves, India ⇑ B
    Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Materials Today: Proceedings journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr Ancient Indian techniques for sustainable and environmentally friendly decorative earthen plasters of Karla and Bhaja Caves, India ⇑ B. Dighe a,b, M.R. Singh b, , Anil K. Pokharia c a Department of Conservation, National Museum Institute, Janpath, New Delhi 110011, India b National Research Laboratory for the Conservation of Cultural Properties, Aliganj, Lucknow 226024, India c Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India article info abstract Article history: Analytical identification using phytochemical test, light and scanning electron microscopy revealed the Received 15 December 2019 presence of Careya arborea stem fibres and rice husk mixed as an organic additive in the historic plaster. Received in revised form 25 January 2020 In the coastal regions of Western Ghats, India, C. arborea stem fibre having antioxidant, antimicrobial and Accepted 3 February 2020 termite resistance properties helped the survival of earthen plasters even in unfavourable climatic con- Available online xxxx dition (immense rainfall region). Moreover, the utilization of agro-waste material such as rice husk played a role in decreasing density, imparting plasticity, durability and reducing cracks in the plaster. Keywords: On comparison of earthen plaster composition of Karla caves to that of Buddhist caves of Bhaja situated Earthen plaster just about 10 km away and belong to the same period, it is noticed that the Karla caves plaster has shown Traditional material Careya arborea higher survival rate. This may be due to the inclusion of C. arborea plant stem fibres in earthen plaster of Eco-friendly Karla caves.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainability - More Than Just Straw Bales
    Sustainability - More than just Straw Bales By Ari Gore Straw Bale International According to Webster's online dictionary, sustainability is defined as... Main Entry: sus·tain·able Pronunciation: s&s-'stA-n&-b&l Function: adjective Date: circa 1727 1 : capable of being sustained 2 a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged <sustainable techniques> <sustainable agriculture> b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods <sustainable society> - sus·tain·abil·i·ty /-"stA-n&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun What sustainability means to me is to have the ability to create something without harming the local environment, and to accomplish what you have set out to do in such a way that future generations will also be able to create exactly the same things, in perpetuity. The question is, can we, as builders, architects, engineers and building officials, take an honest and open look at how we currently construct straw bale homes and truly find the methods and materials we use to be sustainable? I think the answer to that loaded question, is that it depends on how we build and what we choose to build with. First off, a few facts. • The production of concrete/Portland cement is responsible for 8-10% of the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions according to reports published by Greenpeace. • The current rate that forest companies are harvesting the timber in the forests of North America today, far outweighs the production capabilities of those same forests.
    [Show full text]
  • Earthen Plaster
    Earthen Plaster Why Use Earthen Plaster? Beauty – The soft finish, earthy colors, and additives that are possible with earthen plasters are exquisite! The sculptural element also allows the artistically inclined to express their visions through the walls of their home. Fun – A lovely way to bring out your inner child! SAFE – Non-toxic. Earthen plaster, unlike other plasters, is not carcinogenic, nor does it burn your skin. The clean up is easy! A little water and a scrub-brush is all you need! Earth-friendly – Of course, although if you harvest your own, be conscientious. Repairable/Recyclable – Make a mistake? No problem! You can pry/scrape it off, toss it under a bush to integrate with your soil, and start over! Inexpensive – Often, the earth under our feet contains an amendable amount of clay! And, bagged clay is not that expensive. Things to be Aware of Maintenance Plaster does crack occasionally, due to freezing and thawing, as well as the settling of buildings. Earthen plaster is remarkably easy to fix – just mix a bit of plaster and alis! Plaster May Dust If it is not prepared and applied correctly. Additives can assist this, as well as giving your finish coat a good dry polish. Components of Earthen Plaster Binder – CLAY Aggregate – SAND Fiber – STRAW, usually. Clay Clay Soil, on a molecular level, is made up of tiny plates that slide over and adhere to each other. When water contacts these molecules, it binds to them, and forms a bridge between them, causing them to expand. When they dry out, they contract (this is why clay cracks) This property causes clay to form a natural barrier to deep penetration of moisture, a sort of ‘self-sealing’ top layer, unlike cement plasters, that wick moisture all the way through.
    [Show full text]
  • Heritage Architecture from the Colonización Antioqueña: the Case of the Santamaría Theater
    Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture XIII 445 Heritage architecture from the Colonización Antioqueña: the case of the Santamaría Theater J. C. Ochoa & H. H. Carvajal Department of Construction, School of Architecture, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia Abstract The Colonización Antioqueña was an internal migratory movement which had serious social and economic consequences for Colombia. It also strengthened many cultural expressions of the eastern part of the Country. Local, traditional and popular construction methods easily spread through what is now the countryside of Colombia’s Coffee Region. Even though this architecture has not been recognized as a significant part of the Country’s cultural heritage, as this designation is usually given to monumental architecture, it is still an undeniably valuable part of the cultural landscape and a contribution to Colombia’s historiography. The Santamaría Theater in the town of Jericó is a building that was originally constructed using earth and wood, with the rammed earth and wattle and daub techniques being prevalent at the time. In later years there were some structural and ornamental additions in the republican style, in which materials such as concrete and zinc were mixed. The municipality recognizes that the Santamaría Theater represents a cultural and historical point of reference for Antioquia (one of Colombia’s departments), and is itself a stage that characterizes the culture of Jericó. As a result, it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest on November 25, 2008. The building has seen various interventions, the last of which was carried out between 2011 and 2012. The aim of this intervention was to revitalize the space with equipment befitting any modern theater, and in particular to foster music, theater and dance-related cultural activities.
    [Show full text]