Adobe
Adobe is a traditional earth building technique where sun-dried earth bricks (adobe bricks) are layered with an earth-based mortar to create stable walls.
Adobe buildings impress with their extraordinary durability, especially in dry climates. The massive walls provide excellent temperature regulation and create a pleasant indoor climate. What makes this building method particularly sustainable is that the bricks are produced through sun-drying alone, without any energy-intensive firing process. The use of local materials and the possibility of recycling make adobe an extremely environmentally friendly building technique.
A Look into History
Adobe building is one of humanity's oldest construction techniques - with the first buildings dating back approximately 10,000 years. Some of the most impressive examples still exist today: the skyscraper cities of Shibam and Sana'a in Yemen, the rebuilt citadel Arg-e Bam in Iran, and the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali, whose earth plaster is renewed annually in a festival. The Taos Pueblo in New Mexico and the ancient city of Chan Chan with its relief-decorated temples also testify to the versatility of this technique. Today, adobe is experiencing a renaissance, driven by ecological and cultural considerations.
The Material
The basic mixture for adobe bricks consists of clay subsoil with a clay content of 15 to 30% and fiber materials such as straw, paper, or cactus mucilage. Sand can be added depending on soil composition. Earth to Wall focuses on natural adobe bricks without artificial stabilizers such as cement.
Adobe Variants
High-Density Adobe Bricks
This traditional variant creates bricks with a density of approximately 1,600 kg/m³. The mixture of subsoil with 15-30% clay content and straw results in particularly massive walls with excellent heat storage capacity. The added straw regulates shrinkage effects during drying. This method is especially suitable for buildings where thermal mass is a priority, such as in regions with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Low-Density Adobe Bricks
This variant, developed in New Zealand, creates bricks with a density of approximately 800 kg/m³. The high proportion of fiber materials such as waste paper and wood shavings makes the bricks significantly lighter. This method was specifically developed for seismically active areas and provides better thermal insulation over extended periods of heat or cold. The lighter bricks are ideal for regions where seismic activity is a factor or where better insulation is desired.
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The wall construction for both variants follows the 2-over-1 principle, with the bricks being embedded in earth-based mortar. Depending on the region, horizontal or vertical reinforcements are used. The wall is finished with a protective earth or lime plaster.