To: Permaculture ibiblio <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, BPG <bloomington_permaculture_guild@lists.riseup.net>
Subject: [permaculture] EARTH ARCHITECTURE
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:53:48 -0400
*Currently it is estimated that one half of the world's
population---approximately three billion people on six
continents---lives or works in buildings constructed of earth.* And
while the vast legacy of traditional and vernacular earthen construction
has been widely discussed, little attention has been paid to the
contemporary tradition of earth architecture. Author Ronald Rael,
founder of Eartharchitecture.org provides a history of building with
earth in the modern era, focusing particularly on projects constructed
in the last few decades that use rammed earth, mud brick, compressed
earth, cob, and several other interesting techniques. EARTH ARCHITECTURE
presents a selection of more than 40 projects that exemplify new,
creative uses of the oldest building material on the planet.
An engaging narrative addresses the misconceptions associated with earth
architecture. Many assume that it's only used for housing in poor rural
areas---but there are examples of airports, embassies, hospitals,
museums, and factories that are made of earth. It's also assumed that
earth is a fragile, ephemeral material, while in reality some of the
oldest extant buildings on the planet are made of earth. The book also
touches on many topics that pervade both architecture and popular media
today, such as the ecological benefits and the politics of building with
earth, particularly in developing nations where earth buildings are
often thought of as pre-modern or backward. With captivating discussion
and more than 300 images, Earth Architecture showcases the beauty and
simplicity of one of humankind's most evolved and sophisticated building
technologies.
ISBN 9781568987675 8.5 x 9 inches (21.6 x 22.9 cm), Hardcover, 208 pages
222 color illustrations; 96 b/w illustrations
*About the Author*
Ronald Rael is an Architect, Author and Assistant Professor of
Architecture at The University of California, Berkeley. He is the
founder of EarthArchitecture.org, a clearing house of information on the
subject.