EcoTalk | Earth-Bag Building
Greetings!
My names Brandon and I am a Design / Build professional.
Creatively I strive to define an authentic modern African design style, which moulds to the contextual surroundings of the land and reflects the culture and traditions of the people.
As Architectural Designers, Builders, Developers and overall Creative Thinkers, I believe we have an ethical responsibility to take into account the numerous social and cultural aspects of the areas we develop; for we are literally shaping the reality of human experience.
Personally I have dedicated my time, energy and skills towards the research and development of indigenous based building techniques as an alternative to conventional practices; in order to determine efficient methods of affordable housing for rural communities throughout Ghana.
My goal is to use my background in architecture and eco building to showcase viable approaches while training individuals on the methods and benefits of these techniques. I also believe by incorporating positive youth-to-youth campaigns that we can begin to teach both future home owners and future builders on the many benefits of sustainable development.
Sustainable development is one of the many trending keywords in the construction industry which focuses on re defining the age old principle of building with that which is available and taking into account the impact that it has on the environment. Essentially this method is centred on a desired outcome of creating a more responsive project that better integrates into the environment and maintains a healthy resource efficient life-cycle.
Today I am going to share my experience with Earth Bag Building, a method which builds on the traditional practice of Atakpamé construction, a process of hand packing clay soil to form mud walls, which has been used for thousands of years throughout rural communities.
Overall the Earth Bag building method is a do-it-yourself approach, which will enable rural families to come together and produce stronger sturdy wall masses that continue to keep them cooler and better protected.
The technique incorporates a variation of the rammed earth process known as flexible formed rammed earth and allows walls system to be erected without excessive wooden formworks.
With the Earth Bag building method large polypropylene bags, the same type used for rice sacks are filled with the common laterite (clay soil) used for traditional mud buildings. The bags are then arranged in well laid out wall course and compacted through a manual ramming process with large mallets. Each additional row of sacks is staggered to allow overlapping and lines of barbwire are used to create a scratch bond in between each course that helps prevent slippage as the walls rise. At the lintel level the wall system is structurally reinforced with a continuous concrete bond beam and columns are used where necessary. The completed wall system is then rendered smooth with a final cement based plaster creating a conventional wall finish.
-This process of sustainable, eco building is being promoted both as an advancement of the traditional methods of Atakpamé construction and as an alternative to standard practices of solid, sand-crete block construction done in rural communities
The Mahali Project: 1000 Sq. Ft
The Mahali Project is our first prototype structure that uses the EARTH BAG BUILDING TECHNIQUE. Our goal was to create a design build project that improved on the traditional techniques of mud building and resembled a conventional building design.
The project is located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, near the township of Akosombo, on a beautiful site set on the banks of the Volta River with mountain views and a short canoe ride away from Ghana's Hydroelectric Dam.
The building created is a modest Two Room Studio Home, which is approximately 1000 sq. ft. The design incorporates an open plan Main Space for the living, dining, and kitchen areas, with a main Bedroom and an additional multi-purpose room that is intended to act as a second bedroom or workshop space. The building has a rectilinear layout to optimize space in each individual area.
Overall a practical palette of raw materials and building products were selected to create an example of a home that incorporates standard, available building components, in unique and creative ways. Locally reclaimed materials were sourced and used as often as possible, with the foundation stones being manually harvested from a nearby mountain and the adobe soil for the Earth Bag wall systems conveyed from a neighboring village.
- Stone Foundation
- Earth Bag Wall System (18 in. Thick)
- Structurally Reinforced w/ Concrete Columns and Beams
- Timber Framed
- Undline Roofing System
- Traditional Carved Wooden Doors
- Louvered Glass Windows
- Sliding Glass Doors
-Solar Hot Water Heater
- Security Bar Deterrents
Aseseeso Chalet: 600 Sq. Ft
Our second featured Earth Bag building project is an hour and a half drive outside of Accra in the township of Aseseeso. A beautiful journey through the rolling countryside ends at our vibrant project site set atop the Akuapem hills, with a beautiful panoramic view of the historic Krobo Mountain.
The project is a continuation of our “A Building of Africa” design series which features buildings that utilize locally sourced materials and promotes what we like to call “eco+logical” solutions.
Here we have built an 18ft (diameter) round ensuite Chalet. The structure is two storeys with stone foundations, and an Earth Bag wall system that is structurally reinforced with the appropriate concrete columns and continuous lintel beam. The chalet incorporates a sturdy timber framed reciprocal roof design that is sheathed with a standing-seam metal roof and rain water catchments installed by Raincoat Roofing system.
The building’s design creates a large front veranda area to encourage outdoor functional use. On the main entry level, the round space has a studio layout with areas for lounging, cooking and dinning. Off this main space are adjacent areas for the bathroom and a multi-purpose room which can be used as an additional bedroom, office or study. A dynamic spiral staircase leads you up to a second floor sleeping loft with a vaulted ceiling and panoramic view from the window.
- Stone Foundation
- Earth Bag Wall System (16 in. Thick)
- Structurally Reinforced w/ Concrete Columns and Beams
- Timber Framed (Mahogany and Odum)
- RainCoat Roofing System (+25 Years)
- Traditional Carved Wooden Doors
- Louvered Glass Windows
- Spiral Staircase
- Water Harvesting System (Underground Tank)