LA TIERRA COMO MATERIAL: Inclusión del barro en el imaginario del diseño actual

Thesis available online:

LA TIERRA COMO MATERIAL: Inclusión del barro en el imaginario del diseño actual

EARTH AS MATERIAL: Inclusion of mud in the imaginary of the current design

 Nuñez, Silvia and Cuiñas, Carolina (2010) Tesis de Diseño Indutrial - Facultad de Diseño - Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Tesis de Diseño Indutrial - Facultad de Diseño - Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Resumen:La cantidad de recursos y materiales naturales que existen en el entorno hacen posible, que las personas puedan mejorar su calidad de vida y al mismo tiempo no dañen el medio ambiente donde se desarrollan. A pesar de que la construcción natural tiene una antigüedad de más de 10.000 años, en la actualidad se la considera un símbolo de precariedad y marginalidad relacionado con los sistemas modernos imperantes. La problemática que se presenta dentro del marco de esta tesina es la de incluir a este material dentro del imaginario del diseño en la actualidad. La investigación comienza analizando las posibilidades técnicas y simbólicas de la tierra como material en la producción de objetos de diseño industrial. De ésta forma, se recopila información desde la arquitectura, siendo éste el campo donde se ha desarrollado con mayor profundidad. Al ser un material explorado desde realidades artesanales y no tanto así desde procesos sistematizados, creemos que el diseño puede aportar nuevas posibilidades para el mismo en la actualidad. Como objetivo fundamental se plantea explorar nuevas formas productivas,identificando y aprovechando recursos y potencialidades endógenas de una comunidad y las tecnologías disponibles en ella. Asimismo, se busca dar una solución real a un objeto contenido dentro de un contexto particular y definido, mediante un producto, sus moldes y desarrollo productivo.


Abstract: The amount of natural resources and materials that can be found in the environment enable people to improve their life quality without harming it. Even though the natural construction dates 10.000 years ago, nowadays it is considered a symbol of precariousness and marginality if compared to the prevailing modern systems. The topic of this thesis is to include the earth as a material within the current design imaginary. The starting point of this investigation is the technical and symbolic possibilities of rammed earth in the production of objects in industrial design. Thus, data is collected from the architecture field, as this is the field where it has been developed most. Since this material has been explored more in handicraft than in series productions, we believe that design can provide new possibilities for it nowadays. The aim is not only to look into new productive processes, identifying and taking advantage of endogenous resources and potentialities as well as the available technologies, but also to look for a real solution to an object contained within a particular and definite context, through a product, its casts and productive development.

Sample pages from the thesis. Credits: Nuñez, Silvia and Cuiñas, Carolina (2010)

Vernacular Techniques in Iranian Sustainable Architecture

Journal of Sustainable Development - Vol. 4, No. 1; February 2011

An Overview of Some Vernacular Techniques in Iranian Sustainable Architecture in Reference to Cisterns and Ice Houses

by: Amir Ghayour Kazemi & Amir Hossein Shirvani
Department of Architecture, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
The great Iranian tradition is as yet little known in the West and there is much to be learnt both from it and the building techniques which are integral with it. Meanwhile, Not only is the Iranian vernacular building tradition itself still alive, but there is much to be gained from the knowledge of a highly developed technology which makes such ingenious use of natural resources without the consumption of additional power. This article is a study of the craftsmanship involved in the construction of the mud brick vernacular architecture of Iran, and the cultural aspects of a traditional architecture which incorporates an understanding of buildings which dates back centuries. Expanding the existing knowledge of these earthen heritage properties, examining their behaviour in the local climate and explaining their current condition in order to express the need for the preservation of traditional craftsmanship as part of a sustainable conservation future are the other prominent concerns of this work. Among different Iranian Vernacular constructions, Ice-houses and cisterns are the subject of the main body of this article.

Keywords: Vernacular techniques, Sustainable architecture, Iran, Ice-Houses, Cisterns

Full article HERE

Innovation and Alternative Building Technology within a Sustainable Development Paradigm

This is an interesting paper by Tom Sanya. Sanya is also the author of the PhD thesis Living in Earth: the sustainability of earth architecture in Uganda, which you can find online here.

Innovation and Alternative Building Technology within a Sustainable Development Paradigm

by Tom Sanya, 2010

ABSTRACT

People are at the centre of sustainable development. Basing on this anthropocentric viewpoint this paper posits that alternative building technologies can play an active role in solving today’s shelter problems and indeed in creating habitats for sustainable living. The routinely assumed powerlessness of the poor is problematised to make the case that, with alternative building technologies, everyone can get to be part of the solution. For alternative technologies to be effective in such a role, it is argued, innovation at all building lifecycle must be catalysed. The goal should be creation of a self-organising framework for reconfiguration of processes and products at different scales to develop and utilise alternative technologies in ever fresh ways of building sustainable habitats. International and local South African statistics and examples are used to support the arguments.

suggested readings

The feasibility of earth block masonry for building sustainable walling in the United Kingdom
Journal of Building Appraisal (2010) 6, 99–108

Colin Williams, Steve Goodhew, Richard Griffiths and Linda Watson

 

Abstract

This article examines the possible use of earth block construction in the United Kingdom. The current and historical trends and distribution patterns of earth building in the United Kingdom and selected overseas countries are reviewed. The rationale for earth building is established, and the unique elements of earth block construction are identified. Economic and technical aspects of building with earth blocks are examined, and the cost of this process is highlighted as one of the major factors that is preventing the wider use of the technique. Methods of reducing the cost of building with earth blocks are examined, and the use of thin bed mortars is advocated as a possible way of reducing the labour cost of building, thereby making earth block building more economically viable. The article examines the structural questions raised by substituting traditional thick joint mortars with earth slurry mortars, and the thermal aspects of earth block walling are discussed. The article supports earth block walling as a sustainable alternative to more traditional walling construction.

Keywords:
earth; earth block; earth slurry; sustainable; construction
____________________

Regeneration of vernacular architecture: new rammed earth houses on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River
Front. Energy Power Eng. China 2010, 4(1): 93–99
Jiaping LIU, Rongrong HU, Runshan WANG, Liu YANG


Abstract

In rural areas of western China, most of the vernacular architectures are made of earth. In the process of urbanization, few residents like to build their houses with earth because the old traditional earth house cannot meet their requirement for higher standard of living. As a result, much more energy will be consumed if industrial building materials are used instead of earth. The regeneration of the traditional earth house, therefore, becomes a challenge in new village construction. This paper briefly describes a project about creating a new prototype of earth house for the migrants along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to shed light on finding an appropriate approach for regenerating the traditional earth houses with the concept of low-energy housing. It includes an investigation of the traditional earth house and the environment condition of the new settlement, the new house design process, and the quantitative evaluation of the living quality of the new house. 

Keywords: earth house, low-energy housing, upper reaches of the Yangtze River, passive solar technique.

Front Range Earth Architecture: Why and Why Not?

I bring you today an interesting project, carried out by Michael Shernick, which focuses on the viability of building with the material earth in Front Range (USA). This study was developed as part of the requirements for a MA in Architecture in 2009.

Shernick states that in order to see earth architecture flourish along Front Range, it needs to grow based on the local building culture, rather than on imported designs from, for example, Santa Fe. It is therefore important to develop context-specific solutions which can respond to expectations from local markets and people, and above all, respond to local climate.

Regarding the latter, the author suggests combining the use of earth with other materials, given the high insulation needs in the Front Range. Using standard construction with a high insulation value on the north walls and rammed earth on east and west walls, which would limit unwanted heat gain, is a potential solution. Additionally, Shernick recommends that a vast area of glazing is used on the south walls.

This study mentions what many of us, looking at the characteristics of the building material earth, have been saying for a long time: steady-state calculations  for determining U-values for walls do not  seem to take into account the insulation effect of the thermal mass on the earth walls. However, apparently, this can be overcome through the application of a correction factor -‘M Factor’ - to the calculations. “The M factor is a simple means of quantifying the effect of thermal inertia on heat-loss calculations without the aid of a computer. It permits a more accurate prediction of dynamic thermal performance than steady-state methods, and is deliberately conservative.” (Beall, 2003, p. 211)

This is actually quite an interesting concept, and could probably solve many of the problems that the material earth is facing today with meeting increasingly demanding building regulations and standards. 

Below there is a short quote of Michael Shernick’s work where he discusses the M Factor. It is also worth having a look at the full document HERE.

‘For example, if a wall is calculated to have a steady-state U value of 0.14 and the locale of the wall has 2000 heating days per year and the wall weighs 20 pounds per square foot, the M factor corrects the U value to 0.12

This is not a huge effect on the U value, but it may be enough to prove the efficacy of using massive masonry walls for their thermal inertia/insulating capabilities to individuals in the local building culture who are sceptical. If sceptics state that no insulating credit is to be given to massive masonry, the M factor can disprove their concerns. The M factor has been integrated into energy calculations, as seen in the 2006 IRC table, but it is worth knowing that the insulating effect of mass can be separated out for examination if necessary.’ (Shernick, 2009, p.11)

_________________________

References:

Beall, C. (2003). Masonry design and detailing: for architects, engineers, and builders. New York, McGraw-Hill. 

Shernick, M. (2009). Front Range Earth Architecture: Why and Why Not?. University of Colorado Denver

Reading: Down to Earth - Didi contractor

Down to Earth-Didi Contractor

Durability of Compressed Earth Bricks - Sustainability 2010, 2(12)

Durability of Compressed Earth Bricks: Assessing Erosion Resistance Using the Modified Spray Testing

Esther Obonyo * , Joseph Exelbirt and Malarvizhi Baskaran
Rinker School of Building Construction, University of Florida, PO Box 115703, Gainesville, FL 32611-5703, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. 

Abstract

The discussion in this paper is part of research directed at establishing optimal stabilization strategy for compressed bricks. The deployment context for the use of the compressed bricks was Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) where manually fabricated bricks are increasingly being used in low cost housing units. This discussion specifically focuses on strategies that can be used to counter deterioration due to wind-driven rain erosion. The impact of using cement, lime, fiber and a commercial stabilizing fluid was assessed. Factory-produced bricks were used for benchmarking. The durability of the bricks was assessed using the “modified” Bulletin 5 Spray Test. The different brick specimens were sprayed with water at 2.07 MPa and 4.14 MPa over one-hour time period while measuring the depth of erosion every 15 minutes. Factory-produced bricks hardly eroded at both 2.07 MPa and 4.14 MPa pressure levels. The maximum depth of erosion for Soil-Cement bricks ranged from a maximum of 0.5 mm at 2.07 MPa water pressure to 0.8 mm at 4.14 MPa. The maximum and minimum depths of erosion for Soil-Cement-Lime bricks were 25mm and 17 mm respectively. The inclusion of natural fiber in the bricks resulted in a sharp increase of the erosion depth to a maximum of 40 mm at 2.07 MPa and 55 mm at 4.14 Mpa. As the use of natural fibers and lime enhances some physio-mechanical properties, further research is necessary to determine ways of achieving this goal while maintaining acceptable levels of erosion resistance.


Keywords: durability; compressed earth brick; erosion testing

 Sustainability 2010, 2(12), 3639-3649 ; Full article HERE

Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks, Appropriate earth technologies in Uganda

Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block (ISSB) technology has been gaining recognition, particularly in East Africa. This material and method of construction has the advantages of low cost and minimal environmental impact, while providing comparable quality to conventional fired brick construction. With a growing number of organisations using the technology there is a need to improve communication and knowledge-sharing, to quantify and verify the benefits, and to develop efficient approaches for its promotion and adoption. The purpose of this publication is to promote the use of ISSB by sharing some case studies of successful adoption and adaptation to local contexts. It also highlights some of the challenges faced in developing and promoting the technology with some key lessons learned from projects in northern Uganda. This document provides stakeholders interested in the sustainable development of human settlements with a reference tool for an innovative construction method in practice.

Full Report HERE

A Comparative Study of the Thermal Performance of Building Materials

A Comparative Study of the Thermal Performance of Building Materials

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the environmental performance of a selection of buildings in the typical Central Anatolian village of Şahmuratli in Turkey. The objective was to search for affordable and energy-efficient construction techniques suitable for rural settlements and incorporating traditional cultural values in a semi-arid upland region characterised by long severe winters and hot, dry summers. This was pursued by analysing temperature and humidity measurements within buildings constructed from a variety of traditional and modern materials. The thermal behaviour and comfort, the patterns of energy use and the appropriateness of the different building techniques and materials are analysed, compared and discussed. Aspects of this ongoing study, initiated by a British Council Partnership Programme, are presented in this paper which focuses on a traditional mudbrick structure, a straw bale house and an aerated concrete building. We demonstrate how a building envelope reacts to outdoor conditions through graphic illustration and show ways in which the research can be extended by the creation of simulations using Ecotect software. This research contributes to the promotion of passive and low energy architecture towards a sustainable future.

Full paper HERE

Web links: Cob building | École Nationale d'Architecture Fès | World Heritage sites in Morocco

• Yes! Magazine - Photo Essay: How to build a cob house from scratch

• Blog - École Nationale d ' Architecture - Fès

• Preview of the book - PATRIMOINE MONDIAL DE L’UNESCO : LES SITES DU MAROC

Publications on Sustainable Built Environment

For those following the subject of Sustainable Construction, particularly in developing countries, here is a list of interesting publications. They are all available online.

Sustainable Climate Adaptation: The Critical Link between Sustainable Development & Climate Change in the Built Environment
2010, C J Walsh

Slums of the World: The Face of Urban Poverty in the New Millennium ?
2003, UN-HABITAT Working Paper 

Agenda 21 for Sustainable Construction in Developing Countries
2002, CIB & UNEP-IETC
Discussion Document 

Agenda 21 for Sustainable Construction in Developing Countries
Position papers - Africa, Latin America & Asia


Agenda 21 on Sustainable Construction
Click Here to Download PDF File directly from CIB WebSite
July 1999, CIB Publication 237

Terra é alternativa ao betão armado

Artigo publicado no Jornal de Angola em Agosto de 2009

por: Leonel Kassana | no Curoca - 01 de Agosto, 2009

"Peritos que lidam com questões ambientais, arquitectos, engenheiros, autoridades tradicionais e entidades de várias instituições começaram, esta semana, a discutir, num seminário, na localidade de Njambasana, município do Tômbwa, as melhores formas de divulgação da construção com terra.

Ainda de acordo com os especialistas, esta é uma das técnicas mais antigas embora tenha o estigma de ser associada às construções das comunidades pobres.

O seminário é uma promoção do Centro de Estudos do Deserto, (CEDO) e pretende levar os especialistas a compartilhar as suas experiências e debater as formas de divulgação desta tecnologia para complementar os esforços do Governo na construção de um milhão de fogos habitacionais até 2012.

Características do material

Um documento do Centro de Estudos do Deserto explica que « uma relação estreita entre os conhecimentos adquiridos ao longo de uma experiência milenar, com o uso deste material, e o recurso às novas tecnologias têm demonstrado uma abordagem sábia».

O mesmo documento acrescenta que várias experiências têm sido realizadas em diversos países, demonstrando a viabilidade do uso da terra como material de construção, não havendo ainda conclusões e certezas da sua aplicação universal, uma vez que se atravessa uma fase de grande experimentação».

Em Njambasana, uma área particularmente árida, em pleno deserto do Namibe, os temas levados ao seminário do Centro de Estudos do Deserto foram considerados sugestivos pelos participantes. Estiveram em abordagem os seguintes pontos: «A universalidade da arquitectura da terra», «Análise da realidade local: problemas e potencialidades», «A construção em terra e o habitat sustentável», «a arquitectura da terra e a legislação: o papel das Obras Públicas», «o controlo e qualidade da construção com terra» e o «o ensino da arquitectura de terra».

Paralelamente ao seminário, membros da comunidade local estão a frequentar um seminário, também promovido pelo Centro de Estudos do Deserto, para despertar nela o interesse que esta tecnologia – arquitectura em terra – tem na melhoria das condições das suas habitações.

População entusiasmada

Os aldeões de Njambasana começaram a fazer blocos de areia com recurso a uma técnica simples que combina areia, argila, capim e água.

Os peritos do Centro de Estudos do Deserto consideram que estas são matérias-primas abundantes e disponíveis em praticamente todas as zonas onde existe a presença humana. Além de que o sistema utilizado para as construções em terra é económico, tem baixos custos de transporte, é pouco exigente em relação a mão-de-obra especializada e permite a sua execução a curto prazo.

“O material sé ecológico, pois utilizam recursos abundantes na natureza e não carecem de processos de transformação da matéria-prima que consomem meios energéticos dispendiosos”, afirma o documento do Centro de Njambasana.

Casas tradicionais

O Centro de Estudos do Deserto diz que «esta acção não persegue a substituição da habitação tradicional das populações pastoris, que está de acordo com a ecologia, condições económicas e sociais e das suas culturas, mas pretende promover uma melhor qualidade de vida, no que respeita à habitação, nas aldeias e periferias urbanas».

O Centro de Estudos do Deserto informa ainda que o material utilizado é reciclável, reutilizável e não é tóxico. Estão salvaguardados os estudos sobre os custos do impacto ambiental neste sector da construção. «Optámos pela sua divulgação e estudo como premissa do desenvolvimento».

Njambasana, no Curoca, que é terra mítica e com muitas histórias, com as novas técnicas vai melhorar as suas habitações. Para já, terra, que é a matéria-prima, não falta!"

Catching up...

Basta estar uns quantos dias ausente da blogosfera para perceber que se têm passado muitas coisas interessantes na cena das arquitecturas de terra, sobretudo no que a eventos (cursos, workshops, etc.) diz respeito.

Bom, sem mais demoras então, aqui ficam algumas notas referentes aos últimos acontecimentos.

Eventos:
- A Associação Centro da Terra, que tão eficazmente tem promovido a construção e arquitectura em terra, está empenhada em ampliar as suas actividades de formação e documentação e, como tal, tem promovido  a participação voluntária dos membros nos encontros "OBRA na SEDE do CdT". Desta forma pretende-se melhorar as condições de trabalho da sua nova sede no sentido de dar continuidade ao estudo e divulgação da construção com terra em Portugal.
Embora um destes encontros já tenha sido realizado em Junho passado, existe ainda a oportunidade para os sócios e amigos se juntarem nos dias 17 e 18 de Julho para auxiliar a pintar e arranjar a sede. Este encontro coincide também com a Assembleia Geral que se realizará no dia 18 de Julho.
O trabalho é voluntário, no entanto, existe a promessa de remuneração com chouriço assado, pelo que não há como recusar!



VII CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE ARQUITECTURA EN TIERRA TRADICIÓN E INNOVACIÓN - 25 y 26 de septiembre de 2010. Cuenca de Campos, Valladolid, ESPAÑA

Organiza:
GRUPO TIERRA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID

 Presentación.
Con este congreso se pretende establecer un foro de debate sobre la arquitectura tradicional, principalmente de tierra, ya que ésta es la materia más frecuente, pero no se cierra el campo a otros materiales de similar importancia, como la madera, la piedra, o a técnicas mixtas. El objetivo es el estudio de la arquitectura tradicional y la aplicación de sus técnicas en la actualidad, a través de su mejora.

Temas.
Las comunicaciones y carteles se deben encuadrar en alguno de los siguientes temas
relacionados con la arquitectura tradicional:
- Patrimonio edificado
- Protección y legislación, planeamiento urbanístico y gestión del patrimonio
- Patrimonio y nuevos usos de los edificios, técnicas y métodos de conservación
- El nuevo proyecto de arquitectura en tierra, ecología y hogares sostenibles
- La vivienda social y la arquitectura en tierra

Mais informações Página do GrupoTierra

_____________________________________

Cursos:
- O ArquitecturasdeTerra vai promover em parceria com a ARQCOOP e o apoio da associação CentrodaTerra um curso teórico-prático de Construção com Terra a ter lugar em Lisboa durante o próximo mês de Julho.
Para todos os interessados aqui ficam os dados de informação relativos ao curso, aqui em formato PDF e aqui a respectiva ficha de inscrição:

DESTINATÁRIOS:
Estudantes, recém-licenciados e profissionais das áreas de Arquitectura, Engenharia Civil, Património, Arqueologia, Investigação e Tecnologias de Materiais, e todos os interessados pela temática da construção com terra crua que desejem adquirir formação específica, ampliando e aprofundando os seus conhecimentos nesta área.

OBJECTIVOS:
Domínio dos conceitos teóricos e ferramentas práticas associadas à construção com terra crua, dotando os formandos dos conhecimentos necessários à implementação em projecto e obra das diversas tecnologias tradicionais e modernas de construção com terra.

PROGRAMA:
- Introdução, especificidade, diversidade e universalidade da construção com terra.
- Sustentabilidade, práticas construtivas e gestão de recursos.
- Técnicas construtivas com terra crua.
- Recuperação do património construído em terra, conservação e manutenção.
- Identificação, análise e ensaios de solos para construção.
- Construção de modelo protótipo em Taipa. 

FORMADORES:
Arq.ª Eva da Silva Quaresma
Arq.º Pedro Alves de Abreu

CARGA HORÁRIA E CALENDARIZAÇÃO:
23 horas;
12, 14, 16, 17, 20, 22 e 24 de Julho;
2.ª, 4.ª, 6.ª, 3.ª e 5.ª, das 19h00 às 22h00, e Sábados, das 10h00 às 14h00.

INSCRIÇÃO:
200 € (Isento de IVA, ao abrigo do n.º 14 do artigo 9.º do CIVA.)

Para + informações e inscrições por favor contactem:
ARQCOOP - Cooperativa para a Inserção Profissional em Arquitectura, CRL
Rua João Nascimento Costa, Lote 7
1900-269 Lisboa
Telf: 210107840
Fax: 210107841
arqcoop@gmail.com
http://www.arqcoop.com/ 

- Descubrimiento de la tierra como material de construcción

El curso pretende dar una visión general de la construcción en tierra cruda. Se abordarán las distintas técnicas constructivas existentes como son el tapial,  el adobe o el BTC. Se impartirá una clase teórica el viernes por la tarde y una práctica el sábado por la mañana. La intención es entrar en contacto directo con el material y observar in situ sus propiedades y su forma de trabajarlo.
El curso se celebrará en el salón de actos de la sede en horario de 16:00 a 20:00 horas (viernes) y en Av. las Américas, Polígono comercial las Paredillas, nave 3, Alhaurín de la Torre, de 9:00 a 13:00 horas (sábado), organizado por TERRATEC con la colaboración del Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Málaga.

Dirigido a:
Arquitectos, aparejadores y técnicos de la construcción, así como al resto de interesados en la materia.

Impartido por:
Laurent Coquemont, especialista y formador en construcción contemporánea, conservación del patrimonio en tierra y en formulación y aplicación de hormigones y morteros de cal.

Duración:
Los días 9 y 10 de julio de 2010 (8 horas lectivas)

Coste:
La cuota es de 70 euros (arquitectos del C.O.A. Málaga, Cádiz, Córdoba, Jaén o Melilla) y 105 euros (resto de interesados). El plazo de inscripción finaliza el jueves 8 de julio de 2010.

____________________________________

Artigos, Publicações:
Artigos interessantes publicados recentemente:

- LOURENCO, P., FERNANDES, F., & CASTRO, F. (2010). Handmade Clay Bricks: Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Properties. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE. 4, 38-58.

Resumo:

The clay brick masonry that is much used in historical structures often is in a rather poor state of conservation. In order to intervene correctly in these buildings, it is convenient to characterize the old material. For this purpose, a large sample of clay brick specimens from the 12th to 19th centuries were collected from six Portuguese monasteries and were characterized chemically, physically, and mechanically. A large variability of the properties was found. Additionally, a sample of handmade new bricks, which are commonly used as replacing material, was also analysed. The results were compared with the old bricks, and these new bricks could be possibly adequate as substitution bricks. Still, significant differences were found in chemical composition and in water absorption and porosity, which are much lower in modern handmade bricks. With respect to mechanical properties, the range of values found in old bricks was rather high and the degree of deterioration exhibited a large scatter, meaning that a conclusion is hardly possible.

- ZAMI, M. S., & LEE, A. (2009). Economic benefits of contemporary earth construction in low-cost urban housing - State-of-the-art review. Journal of Building Appraisal. 5, 259-271. 

Resumo:

Most cities and towns in developing countries are experiencing a massive influx of population from rural areas. The majority of the rural population migrates to urban areas hoping to find a job and a higher income for their survival. This large influx creates a high demand for urban housing and infrastructure, which the majority of the migrants cannot afford. Moreover, the insufficient use of low-cost traditional building materials and construction techniques in residential construction has resulted in expensive housing stock for the majority of the poor. There is therefore an urgent need to assess alternative building materials and techniques that are both affordable and sustainable. Stabilised earth is an alternative building material that is significantly cheaper than using conventional brick and concrete, and is also environmentally sustainable. Earth has been used as a construction material on every continent and in every age. This article reviews and argues the economic benefits of using earth as a building material, and describes the associated construction techniques for urban housing provision in developing countries. A critical literature review method was adopted in this article to investigate the economic benefit of contemporary earth construction in low-cost urban housing compared to conventional brick and concrete construction.