Description of Challenge
Ecological building in areas with low precipitation, balancing the humidity in houses.Ecological climate-appropriate building using local, sustainable materials
Solution
Kerpiç (adobe brick) is a traditional construction material made out of clay and straw widely used in Anatolia, also in the Middle East and the Americas. Use of adobe brick dates back to 7500 BC in one of the earliest human settlements in Catalhoyuk, Anatolia.
As such, adobe bricks used for construction are made out of clay, with straw and manure and are baked in the sun before they are used. The result is not as hardy as regular bricks and it becomes less so with time, being especially vulnerable to floods.
Making use of Adobe bricks is probably one of the simplest forms of earth building. Adobe walls have a number of advantages and relatively few disadvantages.
As with other forms of earth construction, adobe bricks are a fireproof, durable, yet biodegradable, non-toxic building material that provide sufficient thermal mass to buildings to ensure excellent thermal performance. Other benefits include low sound transmission levels through walls and a general feeling of solidity and security.
