Lessons From Earth Architecture in Auroville
Auroville teaches the importance of embracing minimalism, sustainability and efficiency by building with earth
Auroville is an experimental micropolis, created on the borders of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in 1968. Over the years, construction with earth as a primary constituent material has been extensively researched, employed, encouraged and taught to the locals and visitors in Auroville.
Auroville Earth Institute (AVEI) leads the earth-based building practices in the township. They are a globally-acclaimed knowledge centre, continually working towards development and promotion of various earth construction techniques, namely CSEB (compressed stabilised earth blocks), disaster resistant HI (hollow interlocking) CSEB, SREF (stabilised rammed earth foundations), SREW (stabilised rammed earth walls), earth composite technologies, stabilised earth waterproofing, plasters, mortars and more.
Given the current scenario of rapid urbanisation and uncontrolled pollution, it is a social and ethical imperative that we turn to more sustainable, kinder building practices. Earth (or mud or clay) has been at our disposal in abundance for thousands of years and buildings made out of them have not only stood the test of time, but have proved to be energy-efficient, economical and utterly comfortable to live in. Come, let us find out more and learn from one of the most basic, affordable and ancient form of building – earth architecture – referencing examples from Auroville and elsewhere, both within India and outside it.
Auroville Earth Institute (AVEI) leads the earth-based building practices in the township. They are a globally-acclaimed knowledge centre, continually working towards development and promotion of various earth construction techniques, namely CSEB (compressed stabilised earth blocks), disaster resistant HI (hollow interlocking) CSEB, SREF (stabilised rammed earth foundations), SREW (stabilised rammed earth walls), earth composite technologies, stabilised earth waterproofing, plasters, mortars and more.
Given the current scenario of rapid urbanisation and uncontrolled pollution, it is a social and ethical imperative that we turn to more sustainable, kinder building practices. Earth (or mud or clay) has been at our disposal in abundance for thousands of years and buildings made out of them have not only stood the test of time, but have proved to be energy-efficient, economical and utterly comfortable to live in. Come, let us find out more and learn from one of the most basic, affordable and ancient form of building – earth architecture – referencing examples from Auroville and elsewhere, both within India and outside it.
Featured space: Jateen Lad;
Earth Technology Advisor: Auroville Earth Institute;
Featuring: Compressed earth blocks
2. Earth construction is energy-efficient, therefore environment-friendly
The procuring, processing, assembly and fabrication of earth buildings are very low energy-consuming operations. The low carbon footprint of earth architecture reduces a building’s environmental impact to a large extent.
Studies have shown that building a square metre of masonry with CSEB consumes 5 times less energy than an equivalent area of wire-cut brick masonry and 15 times less than country-fired bricks.
Source: Earthen Architecture for Sustainable Habitat
How to Design a Home That Is Not a Burden on the Environment
Earth Technology Advisor: Auroville Earth Institute;
Featuring: Compressed earth blocks
2. Earth construction is energy-efficient, therefore environment-friendly
The procuring, processing, assembly and fabrication of earth buildings are very low energy-consuming operations. The low carbon footprint of earth architecture reduces a building’s environmental impact to a large extent.
Studies have shown that building a square metre of masonry with CSEB consumes 5 times less energy than an equivalent area of wire-cut brick masonry and 15 times less than country-fired bricks.
Source: Earthen Architecture for Sustainable Habitat
How to Design a Home That Is Not a Burden on the Environment
Featured space: Ranjeet Mukherjee, former citizen of Auroville;
Featuring: Rammed earth walls
3. Earth construction is cost-efficient
Since typical good soil itself contains sand, gravel, clay and silt, only a couple of other easily available materials (such as cement, alum and lime) are needed for stabilisation and waterproofing. This cuts down costs involved in transportation and procurement. Apart from that, the elementary construction practices eliminate the requirement of skilled labour and heavy machinery, thereby saving considerable cost in comparison to other construction techniques. Plus, earth’s sustainable and low-maintenance nature saves a lot of life cycle cost down the line.
In Auroville, a cubic metre of finished CSEB wall is around 17 per cent cheaper than a cubic metre of country-fired brick wall and 51 per cent cheaper than wire-cut brick wall. A cubic metre of finished rammed earth wall is about 18 per cent cheaper than a cubic metre of CSEB wall, 32 per cent cheaper than country-fired brick wall and 60 per cent cheaper than wire cut brick wall.
Source: Earthen Architecture for Sustainable Habitat
Houzz Forum: What is Sustainability in the Indian Context?
Featuring: Rammed earth walls
3. Earth construction is cost-efficient
Since typical good soil itself contains sand, gravel, clay and silt, only a couple of other easily available materials (such as cement, alum and lime) are needed for stabilisation and waterproofing. This cuts down costs involved in transportation and procurement. Apart from that, the elementary construction practices eliminate the requirement of skilled labour and heavy machinery, thereby saving considerable cost in comparison to other construction techniques. Plus, earth’s sustainable and low-maintenance nature saves a lot of life cycle cost down the line.
In Auroville, a cubic metre of finished CSEB wall is around 17 per cent cheaper than a cubic metre of country-fired brick wall and 51 per cent cheaper than wire-cut brick wall. A cubic metre of finished rammed earth wall is about 18 per cent cheaper than a cubic metre of CSEB wall, 32 per cent cheaper than country-fired brick wall and 60 per cent cheaper than wire cut brick wall.
Source: Earthen Architecture for Sustainable Habitat
Houzz Forum: What is Sustainability in the Indian Context?
Featured space: Mud and Wood;
Featuring: Cob earth walls
4. Earth buildings are better insulators
Earth-based walls have superior thermal mass, are non-combustible and have low sound transmission levels. Their breathable surfaces absorb excess moisture and bad odours, adding greatly to indoor comfort and wellness.
9 cool tips to beat this year’s scorching heat without air conditioning
Featuring: Cob earth walls
4. Earth buildings are better insulators
Earth-based walls have superior thermal mass, are non-combustible and have low sound transmission levels. Their breathable surfaces absorb excess moisture and bad odours, adding greatly to indoor comfort and wellness.
9 cool tips to beat this year’s scorching heat without air conditioning
Featured space: Building Resource Hub;
Featuring: Multi-level compressed earth block construction
5. Earth construction is not limited to the ground floor
The Auroville visitors’ centre, staff residential quarters, single housing projects, apartments, public and community buildings, schools and workshop buildings are testimony to the potential of stabilised earth construction. AVEI developed stabilised rammed earth foundations and walls with 5 per cent cement, composite columns with round and hollow CSEB and reinforced concrete, composite beams with U-shaped CSEB and reinforced concrete, compressed earth blocks and so on, to make raw earth a viable and reliable building material for structures of both large lengths and heights.
Featuring: Multi-level compressed earth block construction
5. Earth construction is not limited to the ground floor
The Auroville visitors’ centre, staff residential quarters, single housing projects, apartments, public and community buildings, schools and workshop buildings are testimony to the potential of stabilised earth construction. AVEI developed stabilised rammed earth foundations and walls with 5 per cent cement, composite columns with round and hollow CSEB and reinforced concrete, composite beams with U-shaped CSEB and reinforced concrete, compressed earth blocks and so on, to make raw earth a viable and reliable building material for structures of both large lengths and heights.
Featured space: Jobe Corral Architects
Featuring: Rammed earth walls
6. Earth architecture can thrive in modern settings
Although some of Auroville’s buildings give an idea of the application of earth in modern architectural contexts, the possibilities and outcomes are innumerable. Rammed earth walls, cob walls and CSEB walls, vaults and domes have a distinct tactile and organic appeal to them that can easily find a place in a contemporary or modern aesthetic.
Although the fight to utterly stabilise and waterproof earth structures is still on, there are award-winning design firms such as SPASM, Chitra Vishwanath, GoodEarth, SAV Architecture + Design and others, who affirm the notion by adopting earth construction in their modern designs today.
Read more:
Rammed-Earth Walls: The Next Big Thing?
Lessons From Vernacular Architecture That Apply Even Today
Tell us:
What do you think about earth architecture technologies? Would you apply them to your home? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
Featuring: Rammed earth walls
6. Earth architecture can thrive in modern settings
Although some of Auroville’s buildings give an idea of the application of earth in modern architectural contexts, the possibilities and outcomes are innumerable. Rammed earth walls, cob walls and CSEB walls, vaults and domes have a distinct tactile and organic appeal to them that can easily find a place in a contemporary or modern aesthetic.
Although the fight to utterly stabilise and waterproof earth structures is still on, there are award-winning design firms such as SPASM, Chitra Vishwanath, GoodEarth, SAV Architecture + Design and others, who affirm the notion by adopting earth construction in their modern designs today.
Read more:
Rammed-Earth Walls: The Next Big Thing?
Lessons From Vernacular Architecture That Apply Even Today
Tell us:
What do you think about earth architecture technologies? Would you apply them to your home? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
Featuring: Cob earth walls
1. Earth architecture is relevant to many contexts
The Auroville Earth Institute (AVEI) has collected samples of soil from around the world at their ‘soil library’ and is involved in the testing and analysis of local samples on the basis of typology, particle size, constituents, fertility and so on, and has proved that building with earth is not limited to the flat plains and favourable climate conditions only.
Earth can be stabilised and reinforced as per its behaviour and properties to create typical architectural and constructional solutions for harsher climates and adverse soil conditions. This is one area that AVEI has mastered over time, with current focus on developing stabilisers and waterproofing alternatives which will make earth construction even more available and adaptable to all.