CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE The information contained in this presentation is for general information purposes only and it is intended that there will be strictly no commercial gain from its production. The content has been prepared in good faith from what are believed to be reasonably dependable sources but its accuracy and completeness cannot be absolutely guaranteed and should not therefore ever be completely relied upon. Any perceived breach of copyright is unintentional and entirely accidental. C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE CONTENTS PAGE A WHAT ARE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 1 B WHY USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 2 C HOW TO USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? 3-13 ADOBE BUILDINGS, AIT-BEN-HADDOU, MOROCCO C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE PART A - WHAT ARE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? THE BASIS OF NATURAL BUILDING IS THE NEED TO LESSEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BUILDINGS, WITHOUT SACRIFICING COMFORT, HEALTH OR HOW THEY LOOK. TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE, NATURAL BUILDING TECHNIQUES NORMALLY USE ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE, RENEWABLE, REUSED OR RECYCLED MATERIALS. THE MATERIALS COMMON TO MANY TYPES OF NATURAL BUILDING ARE CLAY AND SAND. WHEN MIXED WITH WATER AND USUALLY, STRAW THE MIXTURE IS CALLED COB OR ADOBE. OTHER MATERIALS COMMONLY USED IN NATURAL BUILDING ARE: EARTH (AS RAMMED EARTH OR EARTH BAG), WOOD (CORDWOOD OR TIMBER FRAME/POST-AND-BEAM), STRAW, BAMBOO AND ROCK. A WIDE VARIETY OF REUSED OR RECYCLED MATERIALS ARE ALSO COMMON IN NATURAL BUILDING AND CAN INCLUDE TYRES, DISCARDED BOTTLES AND EVEN PAPER. A HOUSE CARVED OUT OF ROCK IN TURKEY 01 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE PART B - WHY USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDINGS CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRODUCTION OF CEMENT, WHICH IS USED TO MAKE CONCRETE, REQUIRES AN ASTOUNDING AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND CAN RESULT IN WATER AND AIR POLLUTION AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE WHICH IS NOT USUALLY RECYCLED. USING NATURAL MATERIALS THAT REQUIRE MINIMAL PROCESSING OR REFINING CAN REDUCE THESE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. USING NATURAL MATERIALS WHICH ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE CAN ALSO REDUCE COSTS AND POLLUTION ASSOCAITED WITH TRANSPORTATION. THEY CAN ALSO REDUCE THE TOXINS IN BUILDINGS WHICH ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL OR MAN-MADE PRODUCTS. AS AN ADDED BONUS, BUILDING WITH NATURAL PRODUCTS IS OFTEN INEXPENSIVE AND RELATIVELY EASY REQUIRING LITTLE CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE. TRUCKS CARRYING MATERIALS TO A CONSTRUCTION SITE 02 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE PART C - HOW TO USE NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS? IN THIS INFORMATION PACK WE WILL LOOK AT TEN NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS WHICH ARE BEING USED TODAY AROUND THE WORLD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT ALL THE NATURAL BUILDING MATERAILS AVAILABLE AND MANY OTHERS EXIST. ROCK EARTHBAGS STRAW BALES EARTHSHIPS BAMBOO EARTH-SHELTERED CORDWOOD COB RAMMED EARTH ADOBE 03 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE ROCK YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE STEEL, BRICKS OR CONCRETE TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUILD BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS USING LOCALLY AVAILABLE ROCKS. TRADITIONALLY IN SCOTLAND MANY BUILDINGS WERE CONSTRUCTED FROM ROCK BECAUSE IT WAS EASY TO FIND AND EXTREMELY DURABLE. THE ROCK WOULD BE SPLIT AND CARVED INTO BLOCKS AND THEN STUCK TOGETHER USING MORTAR. Rock House, Nas Montanhas de Fafe, Portugal 04 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE STRAW BALES STRAW BALES CAN ACT AS STRUCTURAL BUILDING BLOCKS THEMSELVES OR AS A FILL FOR INSULATION IN A TRADITIONAL POST-AND-BEAM STRUCTURE. AFTER THE BALES ARE STACKED, THE WALLS ARE PLASTERED. THE THICK WALLS PROVIDE EXCELLENT INSULATION AND WHEN USED TO BUILD A HOUSE ARE ABOUT 75% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN A CONVENTIONAL HOME. STRAW BALE HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION 05 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE BAMBOO BAMBOO IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG WOOD AND ONE OF THE OLDEST BUILDING MATERIALS. IN ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA WHERE IT GROWS IN ABUNDANCE, IT IS OFTEN USED TO BUILD HOUSES AND EVEN ROADS AND BRIDGES. BAMBOO IS A RENEWABLE RESOURCE BECAUSE IT’ IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PLANTS. HARVESTING BAMBOO DOES NOT AFFECT THE ROOTS WHICH CAN SPROUT NEW PLANTS IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS. ONE SPECIES OF BAMBOO GROWS 12CM A DAY. BAMBOO DOES HAVE TO BE TREATED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT IT’ IS WATERPROOF AND INSECT-RESISTANT AND IT REQUIRES SPECIAL BUILDING METHODS, PARTICULARLY IN JOINING DIFFERENT PIECES OF BAMBOO. HOWEVER BAMBOO IS AN EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE BUILDING MATERIAL BECAUSE IT CAN BEND AND IS DURABLE. OUTDOOR JAPANESE NOODLE RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTED FROM BAMBOO 06 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE CORDWOOD A CORDWOOD BUILDING USES WOOD THAT IS CUT INTO SHORT LENGTHS, ABOUT THE SIZE OF FIREWOOD, WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE. THE PIECES OF WOOD ARE STACKED UP AND LAID IN MORTAR SO THAT THE ENDS OF THE LOG CAN BE SEEN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WALL. CORDWOOD IS A NATURAL BUILDING MATERIAL THAT OFFERS BOTH GOOD INSULATION AND GOOD THERMAL MASS. THE LOGS PROVIDE THE INSULATION THAT KEEPS THE HEAT IN THE BUILDING AND THE MORTAR PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO STORE AND RELEASE THE HEAT INTO THE BUILDING. CORDWOOD HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN MICHIGAN, USA 1 2 3 CORDWOOD CONSTRUCTION METHOD 07 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE RAMMED EARTH PEOPLE LIVE IN EARTHEN STRUCTURES BECAUSE OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LIKE WOOD ARE EITHER TOO EXPENSIVE OR NOT AVAILABLE. TO BUILD A RAMMED EARTH BUILDING, A MIXTURE OF TYPES AND COLOURS OF SOILS IS PACKED DOWN INTO A TEMPORARY WALL FORM (LIKE A TALL THIN EMPTY BOX WITHOUT A LID) THEN COMPRESSED BY “RAMMING”. THE FORM HAS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE COMPRESSION OF THE RAMMING. RAMMING CAN EITHER BE DONE BY HAND OR BY MACHINE AND ONCE COMPLETED, THE FORMS ARE REMOVED, LEAVING THE EARTHEN WALL. WHEN PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, RAMMED EARTH WALLS ARE EXTREMELY DURABLE AND ALSO PROVIDE ENERGY SAVINGS BECAUSE OF THEIR THERMAL MASS. SOME PARTS OF THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA ARE RAMMED EARTH WALLS AND ARE STILL STANDING! RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION METHOD NK’MIP CULTURAL CENTRE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA 08 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE EARTHBAGS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN STACKED SANDBAGS USED FOR FLOOD BARRIERS OR MILITARY BUNKERS. THEY ARE USED FOR THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES BECAUSE THEY FORM STRONG AND STURDY WALLS. EARTHBAG BUILDINGS WHICH USE BAGS PACKED WITH EARTH AND STACKED LIKE BRICKS ARE SIMILARLY STRONG. WALLS ARE OFTEN PLASTERED TO ADD TO THEIR DURABILITY. TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT WALLS BUILT LIKE THIS CAN WITHSTAND SOME EARTHQUAKES AND THE ELEMENTS (WIND, RAIN AND SNOW). BASA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN NEPAL 09 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith. It may be copied and/or re-produced only for the purposes of the Creative Spaces Challenge only and nothing else. CREATIVE SPACES – INFORMATION PACK NINE EARTHSHIPS IF YOU HAVE A COLLECTION OF OLD CAR TYRES LITTERING YOUR LANDSCAPE YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER BUILDING AN EARTHSHIP. EARTHSHIPS ARE CUTTING EDGE 'GREEN' BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTED USING WASTE CAR TYRES AND OTHER RECYCLED MATERIALS. TO BUILD AN EARTHSHIP, YOU FILL OLD CAR TYRES WITH EARTH AND STACK THEM LIKE BRICKS. WALLS CAN ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED USING CANS OR GLASS BOTTLES. THESE MATERIALS WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE THROWN AWAY CAN BE ASSEMBLED TO SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE HEATING AND COOLING COSTS. EARTHSHIP BUILDING IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO, USA UNDER CONSTRUCTION 10 C CREATIVE SPACES 2004 This drawing/illustration/photograph/text has been prepared and issued in good faith.