Best Material: Dirt
Well, more precisely, rammed earth. Who knew that you didn't need concrete, steel, manufactured materials when you could simply pound dirt into forms and build such beautiful things. Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects designed this 262 foot long wall of rammed earth for the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, British Columbia, but we have seen spectacular houses in Australia and in Germany, and even rammed earth stoves. And the stuff is cheap as, well, dirt.
More in TreeHugger: Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre: Rammed Earth Wonder
Martin Rauch Builds His Dream House (Rammed Earth, of Course)
Wood Stoves From Rammed Earth
The Dirt on Rammed Earth
Rammed Earth Goes to the Chickens
Rammed Earth House from AR Awards
Credit: Cobalt Engineering
By Lloyd Alter, Toronto
on April 7, 2009
on April 7, 2009
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