ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES

Stabilized mud blocks (SMBs) are manufactured by compacting a wetted mixture of soil, sand, and stabilizer in a machine into
a high-density block. Such blocks are used for the construction of load-bearing masonry. Cement soil mortar is commonly
used for SMB masonry.
THE BASIC MATERIALS REQUIRED -
BLOCKS ARE SOIL, WATER AND
STABILIZER. TO ACHIEVE
MAXIMUM STRENGTH SMB’s ARE
NEED A PERIOD OF DAMP CURING,
IF THE BLOCKS ARE LEFT
EXPOSED TO HOT DRY WEATHER
CONDITIONS, THE SURFACE
MATERIAL WILL LOSE ITS
Stabilized mud blocks (SMBS)
MOISTURE
are manufactured by compacting a wetted
mixture of soil, sand and stabilizer in a
machine into a high-density block.
Such blocks are used for the
construction of load bearing masonry.

Stabilized mud block (SMB) or pressed

earth block is a building material made
primarily from damp soil compressed at high
pressure to form blocks. He
➢ SMB MASONRY STRENGTH IS SENSITIVE TO BLOCK compression strength of properly made SMB
STRENGTH AND INCREASES WITH INCREASE IN can meet or exceed that of typical cement or
BLOCK STRENGTH. ➢ SMB MASONRY WITH CEMENT-
SOIL MORTARS SHOWS HIGHER STRENGTH THAN THE
adobe brick
MASONRY USING CLAY FRACTION.
Applications
➢ CONSTRUCTION OF RETAINING WALLS
➢ ALSO USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEYS’
➢ USED IN THE SIDES OF PATHWAYS IN GARDENS
➢ CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATIONS
➢ CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS, OF ANY SIZE ➢ RECYCLABLE ➢ ECHO-FRIENDLY IN NATURE ➢ NON
➢ CONSTRUCTION OF ARCHES AND CORNICES TOXIC ➢ LESS ENERGY IN MAKING PROCESS ➢ COST
EFFECTIVE ➢ AN ADAPTED MATERIAL ➢ LOW
MAINTENANCE
SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES
➢ advantages disadvantages
➢ A local material Proper soil identification is required or lack of soil.
➢ A bio-degradable material Unawareness of the need to manage resources.
➢ An adapted material Ignorance of the basics for production & use.
➢ Energy efficiency and eco friendliness Wide spans, high & long building are difficult to do.
➢ Cost efficient Low technical performances compared to concrete.
➢ Transferable energy Untrained teams producing bad quality products.
Over-stabilization through fear or ignorance, implying outrageous costs.
Case study-1 brick house
➢ Type of building- residential
Case study-2 brick cave
➢ Location- Mysuru, Karnataka ➢ Type of building- residential
➢ Year of compilation- 2016 ➢ Location- Hanoi
➢ Architect- paradigm ➢ Year of compilation- 2017
➢ Plot size- 325sqm ➢ Architect- h and p architects
➢ Plot size- 190sqm
Brick Cave reminds
its users of
INTEGRATED SITE emotional pieces of
PLANNING FOR both strangeness
EFFECTIVE and familiarity by
MANAGEMENT OF offering them images
SURFACE. USE OF of corners of a
APPROPRIATE BUILDING yard, expanses of
MATERIALS AND the sky, strips of a
TECHNOLOGY LIKE ; garden, and parts of
STABILIZED EARTH an alley… which is
The house is designed to
BLOCKS, FERRO tentative to uses of
bring in a sense of intimacy
CEMENT, RAMMED space at different
and connection through
EARTH, LIGHT ROOFING, times in a typical
subtle changes in the scales
NATURAL STONE tropical monsoon
of the various spaces. We
FLOORS, MINIMUM climate of the North
looked at the material of
WOOD USE. of Vietnam.
modernity, reinforced
concrete forming the
armature along with the
traditional brick forming
walls, floors , screens and
vaults defining the spaces
bringing in a sense of
warmth.

SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES
Rammed earth, building material made by compacting certain soils,
used by many civilizations. The most durable of the earth-building
forms, rammed earth may be used for making building blocks or
for constructing whole walls in place, layer by layer.

THERE ARE FIVE BASIC RAW MATERIALS(GRAVEL, SAND, SILT, CLAY,

modern rammed earth
AND ORGANIC, AND THE DIRT IN A GIVEN LOCATION IS GENERALLY
walls are composed
SOME COMBINATION OF ALL OR MOST OF THESE TYPES. THE SOIL
of stone, sand, clay,
FROM A BUILDING SITE IS TESTED TO DETERMINE ITS SUITABILITY.
silt, color pigment,
ORGANIC MATERIAL MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE SOIL AND, IF
and cement that is
NECESSARY, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOIL
blended with water to
make a damp mixture 1.PREPARING THE SITE
that is packed inside AN INCH OR TWO (2.5-5 CM) OF TOPSOIL IS REMOVED FROM THE
wooden formwork in BUILDING SITE ANDSTORED SO IT CAN BE REPLACED AROUND THE
layers. The walls are COMPLETED SIRUCTURE. ORGANIC MATTER SUCH AS WEEDS AND
stone-like after 24 ROOTS ARE REMOVED AND MAY BE COMPOSTED FOR USE INPOST-
hours of curing.” CONSTRUCTION LANDSCAPING.
2.LAYING THE FOUNDATION
THE FOUNDATION, WHICH IS MADE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE, CONSISTS OF AFOOTING THAT
Standard rammed earth construction involves MAY BE AS NARROW AS THE THICKNESS OF THE WALL OR UP TO THREETIMES THAT
erecting wood forms and compacting the prepared THICKNESS, DEPENDING ON THE STRENGTH OF THE UNDERLYING SOIL
soil into these molds, which are removed after 3.FRAMING THE WALLS
the walls are completed. The rammed-earth tire AFTER THE MOLD WAS FILLED WITH FULLY COMPACTED SOLL, IT WOULD BE REMOVEDAND
method is a commonly used alternative. RESET TO FORM THE NEXT SECTION OF WALL. MORE EFFICIENT METHODS NOW ALLOWFORMS
TO BE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE ENTIRE HEIGHT OF THE WALL (EVEN MORE THAN ONESTORY).
4.TAMPING THE SOIL
TRADITIONAL TAMPERS ARE MADE OF AD HEAVY WOODEN BLOCK WITH A HANDLE EXTENDING
UPWARDTHROUGH ITS CENTER. A MORE COMPACT VERSION CAN BE MADE FROM A 4 IN (10
CM) SQUARE STEELPLATE WELDED TO A SECTION OF IN (2.5 CM) PIPE
5.FINISHING THE WALLS
INTERIOR FACES OF WALLS ARE OFTEN FINISHED WITH PLASTER. IF SUCH A COATING IS NOT
APPLIED,THE WALL SHOULD BE TREATED WITH A CLEAR, PENETRATING SEALANT TO PREVENT
DUST FROMSLOUGHING OFF. BECAUSE STONE IS SOMEWHATPOROUS

SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES
ADVANTAGES
➢ VIRTUALLY FIRE PROOF-THE PROPERTIES OF EARTH RAMMED
WALLS DO NOT CONDUCT FIREEASILY.
➢ ENERGY EFFICIENT, RAMMED EARTH HOUSES TO BE ENERGY
EFFICIENT SAVING YOU MONEY ON YOURUTILITY BILLS.
➢ LONG LASTING STRENGTH AND DURABILITY.
➢ RAMMED EARTH HAS EXCELLENT THERMAL QUALITIES.
disadvantages
➢ NOT A GOOD INSULATOR-NOT A GOOD INSULATOR AS RAMMEDEARTH
OFTEN REQUIRES INSULATION IN COLDER CLIMATES.
➢ SOIL SELECTION IS CRITICAL. NOT ANY SOIL CAN BE USED.
➢ OVERHANGING ROOF NEEDED-CAN BE USED IN WETTERCLIMATES
BUT MUST BE PROTECTED FROM HEAVY RAINBY AN OVERHANGING
ROOF.

Case study-1 Ajijic The materials of the cubes are considered as

➢ Type of building- residential a contrast of transparent and opaque,
➢ Location- Mexico reflective (the inner space and the
➢ Year of compilation- 2010 surrounding) and shining through. The
➢ Architect- Tatiana Bilbao openings orchestrate with the surroundings
➢ Plot size- 3870sqm exposing permeability towards the views and
protecting against cold northern winds. All
of that shall give the complex of the
building an appearance of simplicity and in from the immediate area, were used
the same way a very high complexity inside
and in its relation to the ambient.
Case study-2 debris house
➢ Type of building- residential
➢ Location- Kerala
➢ Year of compilation- 2017
➢ Architect- h and p architects
➢ Plot size- 190sqm
Recycled materials, also salvaged
to form a spiraled wall — dubbed
the Debris Wall — that serves as a
focal point defining the central
courtyard, which allows cooling
cross-winds into the home.

Constructing with the surrounding

material rediscovers an ancient system
which we often forget trough
technological advance. Colors and
textures in the walls and the landscape
merge to bring house and environment
together. To protect against
THE RAMMED EARTH AT
unwanted solar gain,
WINDHOVER WAS
the windows are
DESIGNED AS A
protected with meter
BACKDROP TO THE
boxes sourced from a
PAINTINGS. THE SOIL
local scrapyard. The
UNDER THE BUILDING
concrete roof and slab
PRODUCED A RICH BROWN,
were mixed with coconut
THE PREDOMINATE COLOR
shells, thus reducing
OF ALL THE SANDSTONE
the amount of cement
BUILDINGS OF THE
used.
ORIGINAL CAMPUS.

SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES
As construction materials, bamboo has a very strong fiber. The compressive PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO Process OF BAMBOO
strength of bamboo is two times higher than concrete, while the tensile strength • TENSILE STRENGTH
is close to steel. Bamboo fiber has a shear stress that is higher • SHRINKING
than wood. Bamboo has wider span than wood. • FIRE RESISTANCE
• STRENGTH COMPRESSIVE
• ELASTICAL MODULUS
• FLEXURAL (BENDING) STRENGTH
• SHEARING STRENGTH
• SLIP RESISTANCE splitting

USES OF BAMBOO IN CONSTRUCTION

1.BAMBOO FOOTINGS • BAMBOO CAN BE WORKED WITH THE
2. BAMBOO WALLS SIMPLEST TOOLS WHICH MUST BE
3. BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING ESPECIALLY SHARP BECAUSE OF THE
4. BAMBOO ROOFING HIGHLY SILICIFIED OUTER ZONE. TOOL shaping
5. BAMBOO FLOORS WEAR IS CONSIDERABLY HIGH.
METHODS OF TREATMENT
• SURFACE APPLICATION: THIS IS DONE BY BRUSHING, SPRAYING OR DIPPING OF
TIMBER IN PRESERVATIVE SOLUTION FOR THE REQUIRED PERIOD
• SOAKING PROCESS: THE DEBARKED TIMBER IS SUBMERGED IN THE PRESERVATIVE
SOLUTION FOR SUFFICIENT PERIOD TIL L THE DESIRED ABSORPTION IS OBTAINED

BAMBOO WALLS bending

• The most extensive use of bamboo in
construction is for walls and partitions. BAMBOO FOOTINGS
• The major elements of a bamboo wall • BAMBOO POSTS CAN BE
(posts and beams) generally constitute DRIVEN DIRECTLY INTO THE
part of the structural framework. GROUND.
• An infill between framing members is • BAMBOO WITH LARGE
required to complete the wall. BAMBOO FLOORS Layers of woven mats or strips, DIAMETER AND SHORT INTER
• The infill should also be designed to laid at right angles, are bonded together into NODAL DISTANCE ARE CHOSEN
allow for light and ventilation boards using resins and pressure and thermal • WHEN LARGER BAMBOO POSTS
processes .These are then nailed to the joists ARE NOT AVAILABLE SMALLER
ONES MAY BE BOUND TOGETHER

SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES
ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO disadvantages OF BAMBOO
➢ FAST GROWING ➢ LIGHT, STRONG AND VERSATILE ➢ REQUIRES PRESERVATION.
➢ HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE ➢ ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY ➢ SHAPED BY NATURE.
➢ EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE ➢ ACCESSIBLE TO THE POOR ➢ DURABILITY IS LESS LESS BECAUSE ATTACK BY FUNGI, INSECTS.
➢ COST EFFECTIVE ➢ SELF RENEWING RESOURCE ➢ LACK OF DESIGN GUIDANCE AND CODES.
➢ JOINTING-ALTHOUGH MANY JOINTING TECHNIQUES EXIST, THEIR
➢ STRUCTURAL EFFICIENCY IS LOW.
➢ PRONE TO CATCH FIRE VERY FRICTION AMONG THE CULMS DURING WIND.
Case study-1 bamboo house
Case study-1 bamboo house
➢ Type of building- residential ➢ Type of building- residential
➢ Location- brazil ➢ Location- Vadodara
➢ Year of compilation- 2020 ➢ Year of compilation- 2019
➢ Architect- bl studio ➢ Architect-Ms design studio
➢ Plot size- 800sqm ➢ Plot size- 5097sqm
THE BUILDING IS 100% NATURALLY LIT The house follows a subtle Indian
THROUGHOUT THE DAY. DAYLIGHT PIPES and earthy aesthetic as per the
MADE FROM 6″PVC PLUMBING PIPES client’s taste, and has been
HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE SLAB. designed keeping in mind the climatic
conditions of the place. The
To ensure both comfort and material palette of the project
the timelessness of the consists of earthy materials such
project, we used natural as the Kota Stone, terrazzo tiles
materials that we are with a plenty of wood and a dash of
absolutely passionate about; cane. The kota has been used in
wood, wood stone and Hijau different colors and finishes such
stone for the wet spaces. The as mirror finish and river finish to
almost 100% green vegetation define the different areas.
provides tropical air. The
bamboo is been widely used in
the construction of building

the large glass panels have been covered

by wooden muxarabi panels, which allow a
discreet glance of the interior,
heightening the curiosity of those
looking in from the outside

SHAHUL HAMEED

S I DDAGANGA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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