Changing the perception of earth construction by expressing nuanced differences in local soil type within housing.

Tinz-earth is a housing scheme within the settlement of Tinzert, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco, that aims to change the perception of earth construction by expressing nuanced differences in local soil type. This research arose from an initial interest in the varied hues of soil experienced while on site with the ambition to highlight this through architecture. Furthermore, while on site the increasing number of concrete breeze block constructed dwellings became apparent because of earth construction being associated with poverty.

However, concrete breeze block buildings do not perform as well thermally as earth constructed buildings due to the strong thermal mass properties of earth. Therefore, the brief was written to change the negative perception associated with earth to encourage the continuation of earth construction. Research was then carried out, assigning each soil hue identified, with a soil texture based off of GIS, samples taken and site photos. Further research was conducted into the three main earth construction types: rammed earth, adobe brick and compressed earth brick (CEB).

A taxonomy of difference was created between these three earth construction types to understand and then enable the expression of difference between them in the architecture. This will ultimately change the perception of earth construction as it will highlight the different capabilities of earth, treating the material as a precious, special commodity. The research concluded in nine dwellings being designed, built from three earth construction types, spanning the two most optimal soil textures for them. Each dwelling is locally adapted to its site within Tinzert as dwellings rise and fall with the topography. Difference is expressed within the series of dwellings with adobe brick dwellings being the smallest spanning structures, just one storey tall, created from optimum sandy loam earth, with the smallest apertures and a rendered texture; as it’s the most susceptible to erosion. Meanwhile, rammed earth dwellings span slightly larger, are created from optimum sandy clay loam earth and have slightly larger apertures that are arched. These dwellings also rise to two storeys and have a striped texture. Both the adobe brick and rammed earth dwellings have flat timber roof structures.

Finally, the CEB dwellings rise to three storeys, are constructed from either sandy loam or sandy clay loam earth, as both are optimal, and have even larger apertures, behind a perforated brick facade. These dwellings also have vaulted roofs, a feature not possible in either adobe brick or rammed earth, in order to reduce the use of timber, due to it being a limited resource as a result of water scarcity issues within the region. Overall, the series of dwellings expresses the nuanced differences in local soil type within housing, which will remove the stigma associated with earth construction.