Earth Building UK (EBUK) is a pioneering organisation promoting the use of earth for building in the UK.
At Ecobuild this year RESET enabled EBUK members to spread the word of building with earth within the ‘natural, traditional, sustainable’ section of the show.
These are the highlights of our stand:
Cob Walling
Cob is a very ancient technique of building with earth, using earth, sand, straw and water to create a moderately wet mix which is built up in layers (or lifts) without the need for formwork.
Once dried cob walls are very hard and very durable wall, they are load bearing, and have an excellent thermal performance.
It is a building technique found historically throughout the UK and there are a very large number of historic or heritage structures made from cob. In the Southwest there is the oft quoted saying that cob needs ‘a good hat and a good pair of boots’.
Cob is an excellent material for use in new earth construction reflecting local traditional practice whilst significantly reducing the carbon costs of building. As with all earth building cob creates a strong, healthy and breathable environment.
For the construction at Ecobuild we used cob blocks supplied by Mike Wye, these were laid in both an earth and lime mortar, finished with an earth plaster, and the sculptural qualities of the materials were demonstrated.
If you would like to get involved in building with cob please look at the ‘event’ page for workshops and training opportunities.
http://www.ebuk.uk.com/index.php/we-can-help/courses
Earthed will be running this workshop and others through the year:
27th-29th June. Buckinghamshire. Cob course by Low Impact Living Initiative (LILI) (run by Earthed) http://www.lowimpact.org/courses.htm
You can find out lots more information about building with cob, including cob and planning permission on Earthed’s website: http://earthedworld.co.uk
Earthblocks (Unfired Clay Masonry)
Unfired clay masonry is a relatively recent innovation in earth building in the UK. They offer many advantages, such as thinner walls that are better suited to the modern construction industry.
The majority of the embodied energy in fired bricks comes from the firing process, and up to 85% energy saving in manufacturing is possible if bricks are used unfired. In order to make unfired clay bricks ‘mainstream’ their size is reduced (to that of a standard fired brick), as such the mortar strength is increased. These blocks are mainly intended for internal use.
EBUK members have pioneered research into this developing use of earth as a building material.
As with all earth building materials the benefits of earth blocks are their low energy input, they are fully recyclable, and have very low waste. They can help create a healthy and breathable environment.
The bricks used at Ecobuild are Ecoterre™ by Ibstock – you can find out more online here: http://www.ibstock.com
If you would like to know more information on the development of unfired brick masonry in the UK:
Walker, P., Heath, A. and Lawrence, R. M. H., 2008. Modern innovations in unfired clay masonry in the UK. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architectural Heritage, 1-5 February, 2008, Bamako, Mali. Pages 271-276).
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/pdf_publications/terra_2008.pdf
(this link opens a PDF – article is pages 271-276).
Further reading: Tom Morton. 2008. Earth Masonry – design and construction guidelines. IHS/BRE. Available online: http://www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=287591
Exhibition: Terra Europae – Earthen Architecture in the European Union.
This exhibition was originally presented as part of the Terra InCognita Earthen Architecture in Europe research project developed in the framework of Culture 2007-2013 Programme of the European Union. The research project developed between 2009 and 2011 by Ecole d’Avignon (France), Escola Superior Gallaecia (Portugal), Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain), Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italy) and CAUE-Conseil d’Architecture, d’Urbanisme et de l’Environnement of Vaucluse (France). European partners in the Culture 2007-2013 programme.
EBUK participated in parts of this project. This included an online survey of earth building in the UK, alongside coordinating UK nominations for the award for ‘Outstanding Earth Building in Europe 2011’. In the UK this was awarded to the Logie Schoolhouse, Fife and WISE building at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, Wales.
An accompanying publication is also available:
Terra Europae – Earthen Architecture in the European Union.
Further information: http://www.edizioniets.com/Scheda.asp?N=9788846729576
Earth Building UK provided a very concise summary of earth building in the UK – such a short summary can hardly so justice for such a complex and varied building material – but we hope that it at least covers the basics.
Earth Building UK – background.
Earth Building UK (EBUK) was established in 2009. Our aims are promoting the use of earth for conservation and new build projects, providing a network for earth builders and a lobbying voice for the use of earth in construction.
EBUK are the primary co-ordinating body in the UK concerned with enabling the use and growth of earth in the construction sector, alongside promoting earth within training, education and research sectors, including standards and regulations.
“Earth is a unique building material, humans have been building structures out of earth for the last 10,000 years – but it is also a material that is really important for the future. The use of earth as a building material can go a long way towards reducing our carbon footprint and the environmental impact of building, whilst preserving an important part of our built heritage and distinctive building traditions”.
EBUK is a membership organisation with growing membership of around 100. We have members from across the UK. Our member’s activities cover a broad range of earth building related expertise, different organisations and interests. Members are commercial and academic, involved in new build and conservation activities. We have strong links to Universities, ICOMOS, NGO’s such as RESET and grassroots organisations such as Clayworks and Straw Works who work with earth within environment and training, alongside links to national heritage agencies.
“There are some fascinating new earth buildings all around the UK, new buildings at the Eden Project (Cornwall), and Centre for Alternative Technology (Machynlleth, Wales) have transformed our understanding and appreciation of a much maligned building material. People can now see earth as a beautiful and sustainable material and a real ‘green’ alternative to the standard building industry.”
Our key activities are networking and coordination. We are the UKs main base for information exchange on earth building. This we do through different media, through newsletters, our website, social media, our annual conference and exhibitions. Our newsletter reaches 450 individuals and organisations each month.
Thanks to:
RESET, Annabel Fawcus (for cob building), Mike Wye (for the supply of cob blocks, earth and lime mortars), Fionn Mcgregor and Andrew Heath (for unfired bricks), Loris Benzo, Heather Miles, Amrit Row, Linda Royles, Dan Maskell, Pete Walker, Mike Lawrence, Paul Mallion, Simon Dawson, Mike Endicott, Sophie Christopher-Bowes and Jeffrey Gale.
Ready for next year?
