Earth Architecture - Dissertation

7th semester disserta,on Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construc,on Management

Earth architecture Earth as a construc.on material for sustainable buildings. Using the vernacular architecture trough old earthen buildings as a guide for modern sustainable buildings.

Earth architecture in Bulgaria.

Author: Viktoriya Tashkova Consultant: Erik Toft Date: October 2014

TITLE SHEET

Dissertation title: Earth architecture Supervisor: Erik Toft Author: Viktoriya Tashkova Date/Signature: Study number: 198594 Number of copies of dissertation: published 2 copies Number of pages: 37

General information: All rights reserved – no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from author.

Note: This thesis has been prepared as part of the training for Constructing Architect – all responsibility for advice, instruction or conclusion disclaimed.

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Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Erik Toft for his assistance throughout the writing of this dissertation and providing me with useful advices and hints. I would also like to thank architect Georgi Georgiev for given me all the information needed me for earthen architecture in Bulgaria from his articles and lectures and Gordon Lindsey Alcock for his assistance with the structure and layout of this report.

Abstract: Earth as a building material is really old and known techniques. The methods of building with earth are developed each year. With the big influence from new and more modern technologies, this techniques became a bit forgotten. However, there is still people trying to go back living in harmony with nature and environment, making a lot researches to improve the quality of the earth as a material and educate people and guide them towards a higher living standard.

Key words: Earth, earth techniques, construction material, sustainable architecture, modern earth building, earth building in Bulgaria

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List of contents Abstract Key words List of contents 1. Introduction and problem background 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Problem background 1.3 Problem statement 1.4 Research questions statement 1.5 Delimitation statement 1.6 Choice of basic theory and sources statement 1.7. Report overall structure and argumentation 2. Main section: 2.1Definition of sustainability Earth as a building material is it really meets the requirements for sustainable building?

2.2Earth building – history and different techniques Can the different sort of earth techniques be grouped?

2.3 Modern examples How the old types of earth buildings guide the modern earth architecture?

2.4 Earth as a building material today If earth buildings are so self-efficiency and cheap why they are not the main type of buildings?

2.5. Earth buildings in Bulgaria- short history Why this type of construction is not so popular in Bulgaria? Is there already any examples?

3. Conclusion List of figures and illustrations List of references

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1. Introduction and problem background 1.1 Introduction The main aim of this dissertation is to present one more time very known but a bit forgotten construction for sustainable architecture with analyzing the sustainable technologies, materials and structures related to the traditional earth techniques. The development of earth as a building material is linked to previous structures constructed centuries ago with rudimentary methods. The methods of building with earth are developing each year in parallel with people concerns about environment issue.

In the first part I will try to give short explanation why the earth as a construction material is known as a sustainable material. You can find an answer why it is important to choose local renewable, non-toxic material. There is an overview of the traditional earth techniques, some studies presenting how the old earth constructed building can guide the new modern sustainable architecture. I will show principally how it can be grouped the different types of earth techniques.

Finally I am going to show how thus sustainable construction techniques are known in Bulgaria.

I will present a bit short history of Bulgarian building using that kind of construction; I will try to answer what is the main reason people to don’t build them for them future houses and is there interest about earth building in general.

1.2 Problem background This dissertation has been written as a compulsory part of 7th semester Architecture Technology and Construction Management degree course. As a topic for this research I decided to write about earth buildings. I choose to write about that because I am really interested in sustainable way of building construction. I have to found out what are the benefits to live in earth buildings, what we found in the different old examples and can we use it as a guide. I will touch a bit of the history how it was done in Bulgaria that type of building and try to explain why they are not so popular there. In order to gather good information I will look for relative materials in the library and internet. It is an individual project so all the research will be done by me. To reach best possible result will periodically discuss my progress with my project consultant. I am really interested to learn more for this particular part of construction. There are a lot of benefits and to learn about will be useful for my future.

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1.3 Problem statement I would like to investigate why earth as a construction material is known like a sustainable material, how far we know about earth architecture in Bulgaria?

1.4 Research questions 1. Earth as a building material is it really meets the requirements for sustainable building?

2. Can the different sort of earth techniques be grouped?

3. How the old types of earth buildings guide the modern earth architecture?

4. If earth buildings are so self-efficiency and cheap why they are not the main type of buildings?

5. Why this type of construction is not so popular in Bulgaria? Is there already any examples?

1.5 Delimitation The basis of my study will be concentrating on why we need to think more about the Earth and use natural and non- toxic material for construction. The purpose of the report is for me to get a better understanding of how we can use the old earthen techniques and create something new, modern and sustainable, and what are benefit for better way of living.

1.6 Choice of basic theory and sources I began my report by reading the book from the library about this interesting subject, “Earth building – History, science and conservation” by Paul Jaquin and Charles Augarde. I use other two books, which I found online from VIA library -”Earth Architecture” by Ronald Rael and “Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition)” by Gernot Minke. Also a huge amount of information I found very interesting on internet, different websites and organizations who are trying to promote this material as a sustainable construction method. I also contact with one of the most known earthen Bulgarian architect –architect Georgi Georgiev, working with earth techniques. I took a lot information from his lectures and articles.

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1.7 Report overall structure and argumentation My dissertation contents from three sections: - Introduction with problem formulation, - Main section containing analysis, discussion and part conclusions.

- Conclusion answering the questions defined in the problem formulation.

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2. Main section 2.1 Definition of sustainability and sustainable materials Earth is our home. Our homes are located on the ground. Our whole life passes on the ground.

According to ancient religious the people comes from dust. All around us is derived from the ground, and after a certain amount is converted back into the ground. And to keep our environment as it is, we have to make some effort. For as strong constructive force of a man so great destruction and pollution are doing to our land. Some of them have occurred gradually over time. Along with technological advances we forgot how strong and irreversible interaction are between all species of living organisms and inanimate nature.

Fig. 1 Sustainability diagram

Sustainability is a complex mix. It is not only a question of economy, or society or surrounded environment, all that sectors work together for a well-being, for one sustainable solution. That is why we need to consider the “ingredients� of all that 3 sectors. There is some key words which formed the different sectors in one strong basis.

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Transports Development Resources Build ability Fees Lifecycle Balance Popular

Community Human needs Social equity Meetings Sharing Discovering Cultures Collective

Ecology Recycling Natural and local materials Renewable materials Climate Health impact

In the base of our human being lie a constant process. Depending of what we are doing we spend our time in certain indoor type of space - home to live, a job, a place for communication and etc. So since ancient time man has summed up the spaces it inhabits and thus have formed different types of buildings - residential, ritual and public. Most of the old famous buildings were always built from materials found in the area, resulting primarily from the ground. Used are earth (clay), stone, wood, leather from animals, straw. In different corners of the earth they were different types for different conditions of different regions - climate, soil, wind, water.

Especially prevalent almost everywhere, however, the houses built by earth - soil, clay, sand and dug into the earth itself mansions.

Earth as a material is it really meets the requirements for sustainable building?

Firstly in architecture created by earth is always perfect harmony with the environment, without compromising it in any respect. Other advantage of the clay compared to modern building materials is to improve the indoor climate of the premises. Unfired clay has the ability to balance the relative humidity better from any other building material.

The clay is capable of absorbing and discharging the air moisture quickly and to a greater extent than any other material (for example, 30 times longer than the baked bricks). This balance internal quality indoor climate. Over 8 years in residence with earthen walls in Kassel (Germany) reported constant values relative humidity of 50%. Similar to all heavy materials unfired clay catch and keep the heat.

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A huge thermal inertia makes this material particularly suitable in climates with a significant difference between day and night temperatures. Housing with 50 cm thick walls are cool in summer and warm in winter. Unfired clay saves energy and reduces pollution. Construction with roasted clay consumes approximately 1% of the energy needed to manufacture and transport of bricks or concrete. Unfired clay is recycled repeatedly. It can be revised at any time without harmful emissions and with minimal energy consumption. Using roasted clay saves transportation costs. Often time the clay soil is on the site of construction. Landmass of excavation can be used immediately. Unfired clay is ideal for handmade construction by the owner.

The usual methods for construction of unfired clay are low-tech and can be performed by nonprofessionals without the need for expensive tools and machines. Sufficient is only one person with experience who can manage the process. The Method is laborious, but when using own labor, this fact is not essential. Unfired clay store wood and other organic materials. Unfired clay is more conducive to the wooden elements that are in contact with her. This is due to the low humidity of 0.4% to 6% and the high capillarity of the material. Usually no fungus and insects do not destroy that wood. To live insects require 14% to 18% moisture and fungus - over 20%.

(Muhler 1978). (1) (see p.37)

Fig. 2 and 3 Construction from earth bricks

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Earth use as a building material has many advantages, but there are also a disadvantages. Application of it in architecture is limited there, as far as could be located easily. Not all of it is suitable for construction. It is a sustainable and environmentally friendly, where is easily found in the construction site. This puts some kind of restriction in the use and definition and as a sustainable building material.

Fig.4 Earth wall construction 2.2Earth building – history and different techniques History Earth construction techniques have been known for over 9000 years. It has been used as a building material in all ancient cultures, not only for residential houses but for religious buildings as well.

Providing simple shelters using a freely available material makes earth are buildings one of the oldest construction techniques. There is a lot of examples all around the world. There are made in different forms, mixed with other natural materials such as timber or stones, and sometimes with more modern one such as cement and steel.

The earth techniques were used from ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China. They used alluvial soils, which were easily accessible, and from them they made the first housings from unfired bricks and rammed earth. (1), (2) (see p. 37)

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Asia “As a result, the earliest large settlement using earthen construction materials, such as along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the settlement of Catalhöyük, and those of Harappa and Mohenjdaro along the Indus river, seem to have developed with settled agriculture, using the river valley soil combined with the cultivated crops now available.“ (2) (see p.37)

Fig. 5 Çatalhöyük at the time of the first excavations

Fig. 7 Mohenjdaro

Fig. 6 Çatalhöyük, Turkey

Fig. 8 Ancient Harappa civilization “In Iran the cities of Yazd and Isfahan contain many historic adobe buildings. The city of Tous is surrounded by rammed earth walls, and the citadel of Bam, which dates from around the seventh century AD, was probably the largest adobe building in the world before its collapse in an earthquake in 2003.”(2) ( see p.37) Fig. 9 Citadel of Bam, Iran

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Another example represent the advantages of construction with soil is in China. Originally built from rammed earth, later were face in stone, and along the Silk Road and to the northern borders the Great Wall was repaired and upgraded, and new forts were constructed in adobe. (2) (see p.37)

Fig.10 Great Wall of China

“Rammed earth and adobe are found on Tibetan plateau and in parts of the Himalayas as both monumental and vernacular building techniques. At the west end of Himalayas rammed earth is found in the north Indian state of Ladakh, in palaces such as those at Shey and Leh, and in a fort at Basgo ” (2) (see p.37) Fig.11 Leh palace, Ladakh, India Africa As a representative from the African continent, is the religious building discovered, the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, Egypt build 3200 years ago, using mud bricks.

Fig. 12 Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, Egypt “Around AD 7000 Islam spread through north Africa, and valleys of the Draa Dades river in modern Morocco are filled with hundreds of rammed earth Kasbahs.” More than 250 years old, build with local red clay. (2) (see p.37)

Fig. 13 Kasbah in Asslim, Draa Valley, Morocco

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It is considered by many architects to the peak of Sudan - Sahelian architectural style. Built in 1907 (in place of - old building from the 13th century). The walls of the Great Mosque are made of sun-dried clay bricks, called "Ferret" and clay mortar. Covered with plaster of clay, which gives smooth sculptured appearance of the building. Walls are between 41 and 61 cm.

Thickness varies in different parts of the wall - the higher sections are thicker to support greater weight. Bundles of palm branches are built into the building to reduce cracking caused by abrupt changes in humidity and temperature, and to be used as a ready scaffolding for annual repairs. The walls insulate the building from heat during the day and night to absorb enough heat to keep the mosque warm through the night. Gutters of ceramic pipes protrude from the roof and direct water away from the walls. (1) (see p.37) Fig.14 Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali Europe “In north Africa and southern Europe rammed earth was used for the city walls of many Islamic cities. The walls of Seville and Cordoba in Spain and Marrakech in Morocco are all constructed in rammed earth.� (2) (see p.37) In Europe the oldest example of mud brick walls was discovered in Heuneburg Fort, Germany- 6th century BC. Earth building in France and Germany has a long tradition. In the 18th century the construction of earthen architecture was very widespread through the development of earth building.

The highest rammed earth building of middle Europe is found in Weilburg, (Fig. 15) Germany constructed in 1828. This rammed earth building has 5 floors and symbolizes not only the durability of earthen architecture but also documents the possibility of constructing higher than 2 floors when operated with the rammed earth building technique.

Fig. 15 Haus Rath, Weilburg, Germany

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North America Vernacular earth building here are mainly adobe construction. The Chinese immigration to the west cost of the United States brought with it construction technique such as rammed earth, unknown in the region before. In Paolo Alto, California business woman built a rammed earth and cob house. Immigration of European people are responsible for more rammed earth buildings.

One good example of ritual rammed earth techniques building is the Church of the Holy Cross, built in 1850 from academic William Anderson.

Fig. 17 Church of Holy Cross, Stateburg, South Carolina South America “Archeological evidence of earth building in South America is scant, with the richest area being the coastal regions of northern Peru.� (2) (see p.37)

Fig.18 Huaca Pucllana, adobe pyramid in Lima, Peru Fig. 19 Pelican relief at Chan Chan, Peru

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Can the different sort of earth techniques be grouped?

Climate Depending of the climate the earth techniques can be grouped in two different types. This one which can be done in dry climate, and this one in wetter climate.

Dry climate - very common choice of method is shaping a mud mix into blocks and then leave them to dry in the sun before start using them to construct the wall. This technique is known as an adobe. Fired bricks also have been used for thousands of year as a construction material.

Using a similar materials and technology to make the common brick and other types of pressed block is basically what we are doing today guide from traditional ways which were industrialized.

Wetter climate - here the mud mix are placed directly wet in the construction by hand, and this is the way to make load-bearing and infill walls. The reason to use the wet mud here, is mainly because it will be more difficult to leave them to dry on the air. The earthen structure in many European country are built from local soil combined with water and straw, placed by hand after good mixing with the foot. This is well known monolithic adobe or cob earth techniques.

Another traditional way of using the earth as a building material is called wattle and daub. To this group of earth techniques also belong - rammed earth or pise. The construction of an entire wall begins with a temporary frame work, and the damp material, made from clay, sand and gravel mixed with small amount of water, is tamped into a depth of 10 to 25 cm of the formwork. (3) (see p.37) Different types of soil Under the influence of range of physical, chemical and biological processes, underlying rock is transformed to form soil. The soil is composed of many different layers, mainly from finely ground particles. Usually, the upper layers are mixed with organic materials after the decomposition of the nature (leaves, plant material or animals). The layers which are used for construction are usually found in lower layers and they can be grouped according to their size as stones, gravel, sand, clay and a slit. By combining the essential elements of them, we can split more precise them. Three main types formed after mixing are Sand: on the top layer of soil are placed small pieces of stone (mostly quartz), which despite its small size are visible to the naked eye. The gravel, which is a large size, is used for aeration and drainage.

Silt: Very similar to the sand with the small difference that here you can see the parts. Often found on the bottoms of big natural waters - lakes, for example. It has - larger than clay particles and thus does not contain clay minerals.

Clay: It the finest than any other component, and acts as a binder. Clay is a type of soil that adheres well when wet, but then becomes too hard and completely dry. (3) (see p.37)

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Systemizing according to the execution Monolithic earth walls There are two different techniques in that group- walls formed using formwork (rammed earth) and walls formed without formwork (cob). The main between thus two is that they constructed a wall in situ, which function as a homogeneous wall.

-Rammed earth-compacted earth between the formwork. In layers until is filled and create a monolithic wall; it is a mixture of clay and sandy soil mixed together with water. Rammed earth is a simple construction technique and it has recently become popular in Australia, the USA and other parts of the world because it is recognized as a sustainable building material (Easton 2007). Pouring the soil into the formwork and create a layer around 100 mm using a rammer.

Opening – create by using a blanks or by lintels between two rammed earth wall sections.

Decorating –by using a fired brick between lifts, or with adding colored layers, or relief patterns (Fig. 20, 21, 22) (4), (5) (see p.37)

Fig.20 Traditional rammed earth formwork in Morocco

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Fig.21 Traditional formwork in Nepal

Fig.22 Rammed earth with decorative fired brick between the lifts, Villafeliche, Spain

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- Cob- direct placement of a mix moist soil and straw to form a wall. This earth techniques almost always use short straw or grass working as a reinforcement, improving the strength and provide resistance to shrinkage cracking. The earth wall from cob techniques are between 400600 mm high layers and for the head of the wall placed wet cob which is forked into position and compacted. Cob walls are typically between 0.5m and 1m thick.

Opening- also by adding “blank formers” or by adding lintels during construction and then cutting the openings. It is really easy to create a structure that cure both on plan and on elevation.

Decoration - very simply either by inserting object into the wall or by creating relief patterns.

(Fig. 23, 24, 25) (5) (see p. 37)

Fig. 23 Modern cob building Melon car park

Fig.24 Cob wall

Fig.25 Cob under construction, creating an arch

Eden project, UK Unit construction “Unit” construction here actually mean air dry earth blocks. I will show in that group two different types of earth block construction: adobe – units that are constructed without recourse to mechanical advantage, and compressed earth block – using machine to provide increased compactive effort.

-Adobe – not compacted hand or in a frame earth block. All the units are made in similar shape and size and this allow for them easy way to be constructed together in a wall. The soil in adobe construction is richer in clay and silt than soil mixtures using for cob construction. Here also are using a lot of straw and grass during the formed unit. They are used to prevent the cracking.

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Roughly shaping by hand this units can create any shapes such as spheres and cuboids. To increase productivity often is using standardized model. The models are create to be more useful and create bore then one brick in the same time. The walls of adobe construction remind the techniques as fired masonry, with similar bond patterns and mortar joints.

Opening-adobe construction can be formed into arches, and barrel vaults and domes Decoration – by using decorative patterns, with laying adobes on end, or by manufacturing insets or protrusions for the wall. Many of the adobe walls are rendered after construction.(Fig.26,27,28; p.18) (5) (see p.37)

Fig. 26 Making adobe bricks in modules

Fig.27 Adobes drying

Fig.28 Decorative adobe, Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco

- Compressed earth blocks- made in press, wchich allows a large compressive force to be imparted to the brick, used lower water content than for adobe. Cement or other binders are added in different cultures. The plant used for the process can either be a manual leveroperated system or a high-production hydraulic press. Many brick designs have been used around the world, including interlocking dry-stack shapes, and even partially hollow forms.

Buildings are usually painted or rendered using a cement-based render, and as a result do not appear any different from other construction types. (5) (see p.37)

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Fig. 29 Compressed earth blocks

Fig. 30 Compressed earth blocks house

-Super adobe (Earth bag construction)Another method of construction that particularly impressed me was "Super adobe" .This simple adobe building, integrating traditional earth architecture with contemporary global security. Or longer short sandbags are filled with local soil and are arranged in layers or long coils connected with each other cords placed barbed wire, which acts as reinforcement.

Innovation with barbed wire added a stretched element to traditional ground structure, and create earthquake resistance.

Fig. 31 Super adobe house. Plan and construction

Aerodynamic shapes can withstand hurricanes. Bags added resistance to flooding and easy construction while earth itself provides insulation and fire resistance. These structures can withstand one season before becoming again an earth or it can be stabilized impregnated and finished as permanent housing.

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After reading and short writing about the different earth techniques, I can say there is several way how to group thus techniques – depending on climatically conditions; depending from what consist the different soils, depending on the way how the different techniques was done.

In my dissertation I choose to group them depending on the way how the different earth techniques are done.

2.3 Modern examples How the old types of earth building guide the modern earth architecture?

As I mentioned in the beginning of my dissertation, earthen techniques are really old style for construction and is a bit forgotten nowadays. When the people think about building constructed from earth and other local ecological materials, first in them mind coming a "picture" of old, cheap and not really modern, poor building. I can say, that only the people who going deeper in that topic can imagine something totally new, modern and sustainable in our minds. After years of researches and many attempts to improve this techniques, now there are several examples of modern earth buildings. They are all around the world and in almost every kind of needs buildings - residential, commercial business building, ritual, schools and others.

Fig.32 Diagram- Vernacular architecture as a base for modern design

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The development of earth techniques to meet the demands of an industrial society are quite different from each other. Responding to some external forces such as building codes or earthquake, calibrating soils, and preserving traditions against encroaching technologies is only one of many examples which helping earthen architecture to surviving, flourishing and advancing in a modern world. With so fast growing industry all around the world, the strong and typical old earthen techniques are became abandon for construction. However, as another interesting fact is that more and more frequently asked questions about ecology and sustainable development in the context of architectural earth as a building material is the most "earth friendly" material that exists. I think the architecture is not only to construct the building to protect people from nature effects, but also create them when we keep in mind the surrounding and try to design houses living close and in balanced with their nature.

Still in the same time of the growing technology, we can not forget to mention their benefits to stimulate interest in the clay architecture in contemporary culture.

For example in internet is allowed both: in developed and developing countries to disseminate and share earth-building technologies via online discussion forums and informational websites in many languages that are translatable digitally on the web. The digital era is also giving birth to entire new methods for creating earthen architecture. (6) (see p.37) Exactly there in Internet I found several already built examples of modern earth building. I will show now some of them for residential, cultural, educational and commercial building.

Residence Palo Alto, California, USA Architect: CCS Architecture

(Cass Calder Smith, Sean Kenedy, Cornelia Sterl), San Francisco, CA, USA Builder (rammed earth construction): David Easton Rammed Earth Works Completion: 2010 Area: 539 m2 This California-casual dream house is a perfect example of a modern earth building.

Built by CCS Architecture for young family, this house have a foundation made from concrete, in which 30 % of the normal concrete content was substituted by fly ash for cost reasons. The ground floor has primary walls from 41 cm thick pneumatically rammed earth made with soil excavated from the site. With wood and steel framed, clad in wood siding plus aluminum panels, is designed the upper floor. Between the two is 46 cm high ribbon of glass that admits soft light. (Fig.33, 34, 35, 36, 37; p. 21) (7) (8) (see p.37)

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Fig. 33 Residence house, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Fig.34 Big windows on the upper floor admits soft light, Residence, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Fig. 35 Residence house Palo Alto, CA, USA Fig.36 Interior wall, Residence house, Palo Alto, CA, USA Fig. 37 Interior, Residence house, Palo Alto, CA, USA

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Chapel of the central clinic, Suhl, Germany Architect: Warschech Arhitekten, Erfut, Germany Constructor: Jorg Zimmer, Weringshausen, Germany Completion: 2005 Area: 180 m2

Fig.38 The entrance of the chapel, Rammed earth wall The wall consist of 20 cm to 160 cm thick untreated rammed earth (altogether 200 m3) with integrated load-bering posts and building services. Full-height windows provide sufficient daylight. The slightly inclined floor consist of rammed earth as well. The top 70 cm of the wall were executed with earth bricks since the rammed earth part of the wall below could not be constructed full height up to the floor slab. A suspended ceiling made of lightweight clay panels has been introduced internally conceal both this top zone and the window lintels. (8) (see p.37) Fig.39 Rammed earth wall for the chapel during construction Fig. 40 Interior of the chapel

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Office building, Santiago, Chile Architect: Marcelo Cortes, Surtierra Arquitectura, Santiago, Chile Completion: 2011 Area: 1200 m2

Fig. 41 The facades of Office building, Santiago, Chile

“Its structural system is formed by a steel skeleton with several types of infill: at the front there is a 40 cm thick rammed earth wall while other parts of the elevation are made up of 30 cm thick adobe masonry. The adobes are made either of red or grey clayey soil with straw fibre reinforcement. The other walls are made of “Quincha metalica”, a steel skeleton filled with a mixture of clayey soil, straw, sand, lime and an acrylic polymer applied by a high-pressure gun into the formwork.” (8) (see p.37)

Fig. 42 Interior, Office building, Santiago, Chile

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Fig. 43 Details of the elevation –adobe masonry and rammed earth wall

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After searching and analyzing this examples of modern earthen architecture I can visible see that we can find and recognize the old known earth techniques in the modern earthen architecture. We can find them in all kind of different type of buildings – private houses, offices, kindergartens and some ritual buildings. We can also see that the main use earth technique in most of the modern examples is rammed earth wall techniques.

With the new technologies such as computers and Internet is easy to find and realize that the vernacular and old earth buildings somehow guide the earthen architecture in the new modern architecture.

2.4 Earth as a building material today Building with earth is definitely suitable and cost and energy efficient technology that has a great future. However, the earth buildings has some disadvantages coming from the earth as a construction material. Often the fluctuations in soil quality is the main reason about it. That makes the quality of the block may suffer. Bad quality of the soil can give relatively poor performance (as compared to concrete) and may be cracked. For having optimal features harmonious, lasting, pleasant and efficient architecture, obviously you must master the techniques and the materials. (9) (see p.37) If earth buildings are so self-efficiency and cheap why they are not the main type of buildings?

However, the good, self-efficiency and cheap earth architecture still have a lot to improve and develop to make most of the people to prefer this type of buildings for daily living. In my opinion some of the main and well known reasons are: - Earth is not a standardized building material depending on the site where the earth is dug out, it will be composed of differing amounts and types of clay, silt, sand and aggregates. This characteristic may differ from site to site; - Earth mixtures shrink when is dry; - Earth is not water-resistant; - After World War II the interest of earthen architecture going down because the construction material became abundant and very cheap; - The lack of knowledge – the earth techniques are not so easy and simple. They are exceed only by the opposition of some who know a little about it. Also because of that earth builders have faced the unspoken skepticism and open criticism of engineers, builders, government officials and the public; - Hard to organize and manage the production of one's own building material on the site; - Sensible building details; - It can be confused that is not that cheaper than the other building materials.

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2.5. Earth buildings in Bulgaria- short history Earth as a building material was the basic construction material for many centuries for most of the population inhabiting the land between the Danube River, Black sea and Mediterranean Sea. For accomplishing the architectural tasks was used different type of methods, depending on the landscape, climatic conditions and availability of local materials.

Fig. 44 Regional map of Bulgaria Historical overview. Earth sheltered buildings “Here the soil is dug to form a 1.20 m to 1.30 m (4’) pit, the spoil becoming the external walls, their width measuring between 50 and 60 cm. The rafters are placed on the side embankments, and the roof, consisting of reed or straw is topped by 30 to 40 cm (14”) of soil.” (10) (see p.37)

Fig.45 and 46 Earth sheltered house. Staverci willage, Pleven region (source: B. Georgieva, 1960)

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Frame-built hoses “Frame-built ramshackle house construction, is a composite structure formed by three elements, namely wood frame, filling and plaster. This structure was weather-proof and strong enough to resist frequent earthquakes. Accessible materials allow a quick erection and keep the constructions relatively inexpensive.” (Fig. 47, p. 28; Fig.48) (10) (see p.37)

Fig. 47 Old house in Plovdiv, Plovdiv region (source: Hristo Peev 1956) Fig. 48 Old houses in Koprivshtitsa, Sofia region (source: St. Shishkov 2011) “Because the ramshackle construction is lightweight, it proved extremely suitable for making bay windows, balconies, eaves, hanging structures etc. Thanks to these qualities and advantages this kind of constructions was produced widely in the Balkans, which was then very rich in forest materials.The filling has a few variations: wattle-and-daub lattice infill smeared on both sides with a clay and straw mixture. adobe bricks "Basque" here the skeleton of the building is faced on both sides with wooden poles, then plastered with clay and straw.

These fillers are thin on the sidewalls and may not meet modern requirements for heat engineering characteristics of buildings.” (10) (see p.37) • • •

Fig. 49, 50 and 51 Filling variations: wattle-and-daub, adobe bricks, and basque (source: author, 2008) VIKTORIYA TASHKOVA

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Built more than 50 years, well-preserved adobe houses, with thickness of the main load bearing walls 50cm, made of unfired bricks (a mixture of clay, straw and sand), are found in many different regions of Bulgaria. With plaster with mortar on the outside, they are difficult to separate from any other solid structures. Such renewed adobe houses, would show better insulation properties than the houses built of concrete and bricks. (10) (see p.37)

Fig. 52 Adobe house from central Bulgaria

Fig.53 and 54 In the area of Ivaylovgrad and Odrintsi 'Mandritsa, Haskovo Regio

The thick adobe walls of these houses provide an optimal environment for silkworms. The use of ring beams, similar to stone structures are applied in this type of structures to enhance their earthquake resistance. (10) (see p.37) Clay plaster The three-layer coating of 4 to 7 cm, beginning with the bottom layer of clay mixed with straw and its thickness is 3 to 5 cm. Second layer, also known as a "lining" is a grout of 1.5 cm.

Uppermost layer is doped by red mortar with flax and hemp, also known as "fine" and has a thickness of 0.5 to 1 cm. Finally the plaster finish with iron ointment for polishing. The explanation for the thickness of the gypsum can be understood in two ways: because of the uneven surface of the wooden frame of hand-cut beams or purpose for - good plaster compound wall. “The clay plaster itself was made of two types of mortar: Graded and crushed tile being used to create rough or smooth layers as required. For plastering water tanks in the yards of city houses, craftsmen used a watertight plaster called lyok, consisting of dry, finely screened quicklime and combed cotton blended with olive oil.

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This mixture is stirred to a thick porridge consistency, and is added in two to three layers. The same coating was used for plastering the walls of some old churches, and is particularly suitable for the application of murals.” (10) (see p.37) Fig.55 and 56 Usually the clay plasters are protected by large eaves, reaching 1.50 m (5’). Otherwise they are damaged by the rain (source: St. Shishkov, 2011)

Why this type of construction is not so popular in Bulgaria? Is there already any examples?

Like everywhere around the world, in Bulgaria earth buildings are not so popular. The main reason is that the lack of knowledge became forgotten by the years. Another important reason is that earthen architecture is not officially recognized, only because of some enthusiasts who are interested in this type of construction, earthen architecture is exist in Bulgaria. Construction techniques such as rammed earth and cob are almost inknown. In the region of Lukovit, cob technique is called “kupa”. We can found some rammed earth techniques used around Belene region and Rhodope Mountain, known as “bit-duvar” (bit~ toreutic; wrought) (duvar~ fence) In recent years there is several build examples. (10) (see p.37) Low-cost housing In 1999 Gaiapolis Foundation (www.gaiapolis.hit.bg) realize a project for low-cost housing in Bulgaria. That was the first try of contemporary use of earthen architecture. Two really simple and cheap houses, adapted certain specifications and needs of gypsies were built, after two organized training courses for construction workers. The compressed mud bricks were tasted in the laboratory before to be used.

Fig. 57 and 58 Two low-cost houses: compressed adobe brick (up), and rammed earth (down)

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Cob “Earthen architecture is utilized most successfully for touristic constructions. The first cob house, called ‘Flintstone’s house’, showcases earth as an attractive building material” (10) (see p.37) Fig. 59, 60 and 61 The“Flintstone’s house”in the willage of Lesten Borislav Burov, architect

“This example was followed by a small holiday village with more cob houses. The village is called “Omaya” which means charm. Located in a beautiful forest, between lakes and rocks, houses really charmed the visitors like in a fairy tale. It acquired popularity and has now successfully promoted earth architecture.” (10) (see p.37)

Figs. 62 and 63. A cob house in the resort village Omaya. Borislav Burov, architect. (up) Figs. 64 and 65 An earth sheltered house in the resort village”Omaya”. The arches and the vault are built of cob within a wooden frame. Borislav Burov, architect (down)

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“The first residential holyday cob house was built along the Black Sea coast. The house has two floors with a total area of 200 square meters. The owners built the house by themselves.” (10)

Fig. 66 to 70 A cob house in the village of Banya, Black Sea coast. BUDA Architects Kirilov & Shekerov (source: St. Statev, 2009) Earth as a building material was used a long time before. Even with all the building regulation problems and lack of knowledge earthen architecture in Bulgaria is fact and is really sensitive the topic of “bio” and “eco” culture. Most of the Bulgarian’s people have totally wrong point of view about it. Anyway, there is people like architect Georgi Georgiev who tries to make that “old-new” way of build more and more popular all around Bulgaria. There is still not so many built examples, “but thus who know it are here – a smile from eternity, giving power and happiness.” by arch. G. Georgiev.

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3. Conclusion This dissertation focuses on earth architecture and earth as a sustainable building material in general. So in conclusion to the research carried out on earth buildings the question was asked: If earth as a building material really meets the requirements of sustainable building, how this material and his different ancient techniques of build can be group and guide the new modern sustainable architecture, even in Bulgaria? I have looked into the different common literature about the topic. I also focused on some examples with pictures and what are the benefits from each of the types.

After small explanation of what is sustainability I found the answer that earth as a building material, with all of the advantages, most of the time can meet this requirements for sustainable building material. I can say – there is many way of how the different earth techniques can be group depending on different classifications such as climatically conditions, different types of soils, and the way of how they was done in construction, like I show in this dissertation. After analyzing some new modern examples I found how the old known techniques are apply in thus different building. Nowadays people need to know about new modern architecture even an earthen architecture considering the fact that the cost are rising for everything and the impact we have on the environment, and we can stop if everyone is aware of the new sustainable solutions such as given a new wave of this simple a bit forgotten way of construction and why they are important.

This dissertation contains the most important things we need to know when we want to build our homes with sustainable way of thinking using as much as we can say the simplest natural material – earth. There is a lot of information all over internet about earth architecture so I try to show the one which is really useful for people. Even with regulation and education problems earthen architecture is a fact in Bulgaria as well I believe that people should know how to combine the economy and ecology meanwhile they live in healthier and more comfort environment in their homes.

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List of figures and illustrations: Fig. 1 Sustainability diagram http://www.emissionstatement.com.au/Sustainability_Consulting.html Fig. 2 and 3 Earth techniques http://www.lavoutenubienne.org/en/nv-technique Fig. 4 Earth wall construction http://www.hebel.arch.ethz.ch/?p=962 Fig. 5 Çatalhöyük at the time of the first excavations http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%87atalh%C3%B6y%C3%BCk Fig. 6 Çatalhöyük, Turkey http://www.eguidetravel.com/articles/catal-huyuk-turkey/ Fig. 7 Mohenjdaro http://blogs.thenews.com.pk/blogs/2013/08/the-sorry-fate-of-mohenjo-daro/ Fig. 8 Ancient Harappa civilization http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Harappa_Civilisation.jpg Fig. 9 Cob and adobe walls, outside Isfahan, Iran http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mohammadieh.jpg Fig. 10 Great Wall of China http://www.neh.gov/news/the-great-wall-china-now-online Fig. 11 Leh palace,Ladakh India http://www.tushky.com/corporate/?p=5616 Fig.12 Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, Egypt http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_Ramesses_II_Abu_Simbel_Panoramic.jpg Fig. 13 Kasbah in Asslim, Draa Valley, Morocco http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/morocco.htm Fig.14 Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali http://palinstravels.co.uk/photogallery.php?id=1107 Fig. 15 Haus Rath, Weilburg, Germany http://rammedearth.davis.net.au/weilburg.htm Fig. 16 Wall between Macarena Gate and Córdoba. http://leyendasdesevilla.blogspot.com.es/2011/05/las-murallas-de-sevilla-i.html Fig. 17 Church of Holy Cross, Stateburg, South Carolina http://www.eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/plugin/tag/preservation

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Fig.18 Huaca Pucllana, adobe pyramid in Lima, Peru, http://www.inkas.com/tours/lima/huaca_pucllana.html Fig. 19 Pelican relief at Chan Chan, Peru http://ontheroadwithna.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/ Fig.20 Traditional rammed earth formwork in Morocco http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/rammed_earth_formwork.htm Fig.21 Traditional formwork in Nepal http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/rammed_earth_formwork.htm Fig.22 Rammed earth with decorative fired brick between the lifts, Villafeliche, Spain http://www.earth-auroville.com/traditional_rammed_earth_en.php Fig. 23Modern cob building. Melon car park, Eden project, UK http://eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/categories/1-Cob/P2.html Fig. 24 Cob wall http://www.thiscobhouse.com/cob-building-systems-foundations-and-walls/ Fig.25 Cob under construction, creating an arch http://www.inspirationgreen.com/cob-under-construction.html?start=20 Fig. 26 Making adobe bricks http://historicrammedearth.com/earth-building/adobe/ Fig. 27 Adobes dying http://historicrammedearth.com/earth-building/adobe/ Fig. 28 Decorative adobes, Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco http://palavrasemviagem.wordpress.com/ Fig.29 Compressed earth blocks http://tscglobal.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/making-compressed-earth-blocks/sony-dsc-6/ Fig. 30 Compressed earth block house http://www.earthhomesnow.com/compressed-earth-block-homes.htm Fig 31 Super adobe house. Plan and construction http://loveforlife.com.au/content/08/08/04/eco-dome-small-house-moon-cocoonlearning-build-eco-dome-house Fig. 32 Diagram – Vernacular architecture as a base for modern design Taken from Erik Toft’s lecture “Architecture in the future” Fig, 33 Residence house in Palo Alto, CA, USA http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/07/26/palo-alto-residence-by-ccs-architecture/paloalto-residence-09/

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Fig.34 Big windows on the upper floor admits soft light, Residence, Palo Alto, CA, USA http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/07/26/palo-alto-residence-by-ccs-architecture/paloalto-residence-05/ Fig. 35 Residence house Palo Alto, CA, USA Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition),p. 154, online version Fig.36 Interior wall, Residence house, Palo Alto, CA, USA Building with Earth : Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition),p. 155, online version Fig. 37 Interior, Residence house, Palo Alto, CA, USA http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/07/26/palo-alto-residence-by-ccs-architecture/paloalto-residence-12/ Fig.38 The entrance of the chapel, rammed earth walls Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 188, online version Fig.39 Rammed earth wall for the chapel during construction Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 189, online version http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587 Fig.40 Interior of the chapel Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 188, online version http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587 Fig. 41 The facades of Office building, Santiago, Chile Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 198, online version http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587 Fig. 42 Interior, Office building, Santiago, Chile Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 198, online version http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587

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Fig. 43 Details of the elevation –adobe masonry and rammed earth wall Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition), p. 198, online version http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587 Fig. 44 Regional map of Bulgaria http://www.bg-tourism.com/eng/search-by-map.php Fig.45 and 46 Earth sheltered house. Staverci willage, Pleven region (source: B. Georgieva, 1960) – article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig. 47 Old house in Plovdiv, Plovdiv region (source: Hristo Peev 1956) - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria

Fig. 48 Old houses in Koprivshtitsa, Sofia region (source: St. Shishkov 2011) - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig. 49, 50 and 51 Filling variations: wattle-and-daub, adobe bricks, and basque (source: author, 2008) - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria

Fig. 52 Adobe house from central Bulgaria - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig.53 and 54 In the area of Ivaylovgrad and Odrintsi'Mandritsa, Haskovo Region article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig.55 and 56 Clay plaster - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig. 57 and 58 Two low-cost houses: compressed adobe brick, and rammed earth article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig. 59,60 and 61 The“Flintstone’s house”in the willage of Lesten Borislav Burov, architect - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Figs. 62 and 63. A cob house in the resort village Omaya. To meet the seismic regulations the construction is a combination of wood frame and cob. Borislav Burov, architect. (Source: B. Burov, 2010) - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria

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Figs. 64 and 65 An earth sheltered house in the resort village”Omaya”. The arches and the vault are built of cob within a wooden frame. Borislav Burov, architect (source: B. Burov, 2010) - article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria Fig. 66 to 70 A cob house in the village of Banya, Black Sea coast. BUDA Architects Kirilov & Shekerov (source: St. Statev, 2009) -article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria

List of references: (1) Lectures from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev. – mention about earthen building history, earth techniques and earth as a construction material in general.

(2)”Earth building. History, science and conservation” by Paul Jaquin and Charles Augarde; Chapter 2 History of earth building (3) http://www.earth-auroville.com/raw_material_introduction_en.php (4) Historic rammed earth structures in Spain, construction techniques and a preliminary classification by Paul Jaquin, Charles Augarde and Christopher Gerrard http://www.historicrammedearth.co.uk/ISES07.pdf (5)”Earth building. History, science and conservation” by Paul Jaquin and Charles Augarde; Chapter 1 Types of earthen construction” (6)”Earth Architecture” by Ronald Rael; p.202 - Afterword-The future (online version) (7) Rammed earth adobe – Palo Alto, California by CCS Architecture http://www.chictip.com/dream-homes/rammed-earth-abode-palo-alto-california-by-ccsarchitecture (8) Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture (3rd Edition) by Gernot Minke http://site.ebrary.com.ezaaa.statsbiblioteket.dk:2048/lib/viauc/reader.action?docID=10831587 (9) http://old.auroville.org/thecity/architecture/appr_technology/earthtechnology.htm (10) Article from Bulgarian architect Georgi Georgiev – Earth architecture in Bulgaria https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3IST3O9gLaYdXVOMkdNenZVSGc/edit VIKTORIYA TASHKOVA

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