The city Aït Benhaddou in Morocco is build by earth, 2018. Photo by Toa Heftiba.

Building With Earth

Building with earthen materials has become a goal for Studio Viktor Sørless in recent years. Concrete may be the foundation of modern life, taming time and the elements. But its production consumes a lot of energy.

Concrete is rigid, and our blue and green environment is becoming increasingly grey. There is an ecological alternative: building with earth. Building with earth can be an important solution to our climate problems. That's why we are working on a paradigm shift in building. Here is a list of links to articles that promote building with earth.

Xinatli – Towards Earthen Architecture. Why we need to use materials that are embedded, building on the interconnectedness of all life and its re-creation.

Domus – An alcove in raw earth commemorates the experience of birth. The Hittisau Women's Museum houses a new building by Anna Heringer, made of earth and natural materials.

The Guardian – Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth. After water, concrete is the most widely used substance on the planet. But its benefits mask enormous dangers to the planet, to human health - and to culture itself.

Archdaily - Francis Kéré. Center for Earthen Architecture. The site lies on the edge of a lake and has been backfilled to create a publicly accessible lakeside, with a promenade adjacent to the flood barrier.

Koru Architects: Advantages of building with earth and examples. So, why use earth? Here are a few arguments.

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Private house in Mexico combining different constructions methods with earth, 2021. © Studio Viktor Sørless

Bioconstruction with adobe and straw. Natural materials, traditional knowledge: how Mexican architect Alejandra Caballero Cervantes has been building with a connection to the earth for decades.

Sharon Davis Design builds rammed-earth hospital in Nepal. Bayalpata Hospital is a medical complex in Achham, Nepal, built from rammed earth by American architecture office Sharon Davis Design.