Frontmatter -- I The technology of earth building -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The properties of earth as a building material -- 3 Preparing of loam -- 4 Improving the earth's characteristics by special treatment or additives -- 5 Rammed earthworks -- 6 Working with earthen blocks -- 7 Large blocks and prefabricated panels -- 8 Direct forming with wet loam -- 9 Wet loam infill in skeleton structures -- 10 Tamped, poured or pumped lightweight loam -- 11 Loam plasters -- 12 Weather protection of loam surfaces -- 13 Repair of loam components -- 14 Designs of particular building elements -- 15 Earthquake-resistant building
Summary
For a number of years, the healthy and environment-friendly building material clay, in common use for thousands of years, has been enjoying increasing popularity, including in industrialized nations. In hot dry and temperate climate zones, clay offers numerous advantages over other materials. Its particular texture and composition also holds great aesthetic appeal. This handbook offers a practical systematic overview of the many uses of clay and techniques for processing it. Its properties and physical characteristics are described in informed and knowledgeable detail. The author's presentation reflects the rich and varied experiences gained over thirty years of building earth structures in Germany and abroad. Numerous photographs of construction sites and drawings show the concrete execution of clay architecture
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 198-199)
