The need for a shelter has been fundamental to mankind. It would not be an exaggeration if it were said that his quest to build for himself has remained integral with his evolution to this day. Through ages, his lifestyle has changed and with the help of technology, he has brought in building materials to suit it. However, ‘anywhere buildings’ that are rapidly springing up, without any contextual or user reference, are an alarming and dismal sign of urban non-relatable architecture, reflecting on the lifestyle as well. Traditionally, earth has been the most prevalent of all building materials. Many vernacular residences, citadels, mosques and even entire cities have been built with various forms of earth across the world till date. With time, newer building materials have incited a dialect to converse with the changed lifestyle and living patterns leaving a heavy trail that is now becoming ecologically unrelenting. In the process, some simple basic material like earth is getting sidelined. 

Sustainable material
Earth, not only suffices as a basic material to build with but is also instrumental in stating the architectural identity and spatial quality of the building. As a surface option, it offers an expression that is determinant to the character of the architecture. It has distinctiveness, unique only to itself.

While all the other building materials do offer their own advantages, nothing can beat earth when it comes to being ecologically balanced. An earthen building breathes and responds, transpiring as architecture with an individuality to reckon with. It can be completely recycled and leaves very little environmental footprint in comparison to other building materials. The thermal properties that these earthen structures offer are very good and hence the comfort level in them, especially for a tropical country like India, is very high.

Rammed earth, adobe and cob are some of the options for earthen structures. In all these forms, mixing clay, sand, straw and dung forms the natural building material mixture. In rammed earth and cob, the mixture is then piled on and sculpted using simple tools.

At times formwork is also used to give it its needed profile. The earth is poured into the larger formwork and tamped down, creating large forms such as a whole wall or more at one time. In adobe structures, mud bricks are made when the same mixture is moulded in a frame and left to sundry. These bricks can be put together through lime or mud mortar.

METI school
The METI School at Rudrapur, Bangladesh, which is the recipient of the 2007 Aga Khan Award for architecture, is an excellent paradigm where the local construction knowledge, renewable building materials like earth and new construction techniques, were fused to evolve a project that has a contextual identity yet modern in its function and outlook. Architects Anna Heringer and Eike Roswag volunteered to design and involved themselves in building this culturally and architecturally sensitive school, using earth as the chief building material. 

Bamboo was the other material used for structural stability. It was built over a brick foundation with a damp proof course to overcome rising moisture that is typical for any earthen structure. Bamboo was integrated into the building as a structural element and roofing material. Simple tests using humans were carried out on site to test the strength of these members.

Present-day technical inputs were infused into the existing skill base of the labourers to enhance their capabilities to build with the earthen technology. Simple contrasts to the earthen surface like the blue doors or the colourful saree drapes to the openings, create an intriguing flavour to the interiors.

METI school, a neighbourhood school for the children of Rudrapur, evolved its architecture culturally, economically and ecologically, as a result of people’s involvement to build from what was locally available to suit their needs contextually and functionally. The locals, especially the children, took keen interest in every level of the two-storey construction and it has now expressed as a sustainable, functional and responsive building today.  “Earth is so poetic,” says Anna Heringer. “It allows me to mould it in many ways and is so responsive and warm unlike other materials that get static and cold over a period of time.” She strongly advocates the use of earth as the option that architects should investigate with more seriousness for the ecological responsibility lies with them as well.

Earthy notions
Certain misconceptions are also prevalent with reference to earthen structures. It is usually assumed that they are meant only for ground or one floor structure. However this is not true. Multi-storey and tall earthen structures are possible and prevalent too. 

Earth, the most prolific of the building materials that can ever be available to mankind, is now unfortunately being brushed aside as a poor man’s choice. The social stigma that has got associated with earthen structures as an option for the economically backward class, is a regret of Indian society today. One needs to look beyond these stigmas to appreciate the value of earth as a building material. Abiding to traditions as the rules of the book is not needed. Instead, the knowledge can be sieved through, transformed and applied to suit the present day needs as well. With so much built activity sprucing up all around, the effort to reduce the ecological burden is the need for the day. Though there has been a tremendous change in the way man lives today, some materials like earth are still the most sustainable and should ideally be the most sought after ones when it comes to buildings. 
Earthen structures are not just romantic concepts. It is possible to build sensitive structures with earth. It is an attitude for life and the most sustainable option among any materials that one can build with. All we need is a new way to look at them and one can surely appreciate and love to be in them as well.

“I don’t see the Earth as a formless material without consciousness, but as Spirit consciously disguised as matter”
Satprem Maini

The author is a practising architect and interior designer. She can be reached at nandita.srinivas@gmail.com