Down to Earth, Rammed Earth Architecture by Sergio Asensio Quesada

Rammed earth is a technique for building walls using earth, chalk, lime, and gravel as raw materials. It is an ancient building method that has seen a renaissance in recent years as people seek greener and more sustainable building materials and natural construction methods.

Rammed earth walls are simple to construct, non-combustible, thermally massive, strong, and durable. However, without machinery, they can be labor-intensive to build and susceptible to water damage if not properly protected or maintained. Rammed earth buildings can be found on almost every continent, in diverse environments, including the temperate and humid regions of Northern Europe, arid deserts, mountainous and rural areas, and the tropics. The availability of usable soil and a building design adapted to local climatic conditions are factors that promote its use.

This book is a compilation of the most relevant international examples of this interesting construction technique.