Building from Tradition: Local Materials and Methods in Contemporary Architecture

242 Pages·2018·34.786 MB·English

by  Elizabeth Golden

Building from Tradition
Building from Tradition examines the recent resurgence of interest in the handmade building and the use
of local and renewable materials in contemporary construction. In the past, raw materials were shaped
to provide shelter and to accommodate the cultural, social, and economic needs of individuals and
communities. This is still true today as architects, engineers, and builders turn once again to local resources
and methods, not simply for constructing buildings, but also as a strategy for supporting social engagement,
sustainable development, and cultural continuity.
Building from Tradition features global case studies that allow readers to understand how building
practices—developed and refined by previous generations—continue to be adapted to suit a broad range
of cultural and environmental contexts. The book provides:
• a survey of historical and technical information about geologic and plant-based materials such as: stone,
earth, reed and grass, wood, and bamboo;
• 24 detailed case studies examining the disadvantages and benefits to using traditional materials and
methods and how they are currently being integrated with contemporary construction practices.
Elizabeth M. Golden is a registered architect in the United States and in Germany. She has contributed her
expertise to the design and construction of the Gohar Khatoon Girls’ School, the largest institution of its kind
in Afghanistan, and to Niamey 2000, an urban housing proposal for the rapidly expanding capital of Niger.
As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington, she teaches
courses focused on design, materials, and building technology, with an emphasis on sustainable systems.
She is also co-director of the Philippines Bamboo Workshop.
Taylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group
http:/taylorandfrancis.com
Building from Tradition
Local Materials and
Methods in Contemporary
Architecture

Elizabeth M. Golden
GDELTUOR RTayolour &t Flerandcigs Geroup
E
LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 Elizabeth M. Golden
The right of Elizabeth M. Golden to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used
only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-1-138-90991-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-90992-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-69370-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Helvetica Neue by
Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire
Contents
Acknowledgements vi 4.2 Dungga Daycare .................................. 106
Figure Credits vii 4.3 Common Ground Neighborhood ......... 112
4.4 Women’s Opportunity Center .............. 117
Introduction: Building from Tradition ...................... 1
4.5 Esperanza Series ................................. 122
4.6 Ma’anqiao Village Reconstruction ....... 127
Part I: Material Fundamentals
5 Materials and Place ....................................... 133
1 Geologic Materials ............................................ 7
5.1 Tåkern Visitor Center ........................... 136
Earth ............................................................... 8
5.2 Al Jahili Fort ......................................... 142
Stone ............................................................ 16
5.3 Jianamani Visitor Center ...................... 147
5.4 Bry-sur-Marne Social Housing ............. 153
2 Plant Materials ................................................ 27
5.5 Wind and Water Bar ............................. 159
Reeds and Grasses...................................... 28
5.6 Haus am Moor ..................................... 164
Wood ............................................................ 35
Bamboo ....................................................... 44
6 Primitive to Performative ............................... 171
6.1 Kargyak Learning Center ..................... 174
Part II: Material Strategies
6.2 Pani Community Center ....................... 179
3 Bespoke to Standardized ................................ 59 6.3 Haus Rauch ......................................... 186
3.1 Onjuku Beach House ............................. 63 6.4 Aknaibich Preschool ............................ 191
3.2 Hostal Ritoque ....................................... 69 6.5 Blooming Bamboo Home .................... 197
3.3 Niamey 2000 .......................................... 75 6.6 Thread Artist Residency and ................ 203
3.4 Base Affordable Housing ....................... 81 Cultural Center
3.5 ModCell Straw Technology .................... 86
3.6 Ricola Kräuterzentrum ........................... 91 7 Reflections and Looking Ahead .................... 211
4 Local Engagement .......................................... 97
4.1 Opera Village and Center for .............. 100 Index ....................................................................221
Health Care and Social Promotion
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without the support of David Miller, chair of the Department of
Architecture at the University of Washington (2007–2015). He, in addition to my colleagues Ann Huppert and
Vikram Prakash, offered encouragement and guidance at critical moments during the development of this
project. Research for this project was made possible by a grant from the University of Washington Royalty
Research Fund.
Several individuals deserve special recognition for offering their expertise on materials and building
traditions. Thanks goes to Ray Villanueva, Rene Armogenia, and Herbie Teodoro for furthering my
understanding of bamboo construction, and to Kent Harries, for bringing me up to speed on bamboo and
the ISO standardization process. I also owe a great deal to Mariam Kamara for enhancing my knowledge
of compressed earth block construction, as well as earth architecture in Niger. Thanks to Li Peipei Sun
who assisted with translations and advanced my work through her graduate thesis project, which included
research on counter-urbanization and building traditions in China.
I am extremely appreciative of the cooperation, enthusiasm, and generosity of all participating firms and
organizations. I would like to specifically thank Till Gröner, Corrina Salzer, Christina Jentsch, Lutz Nadia,
Clemens Quirin, David Barragán, Jordan Mactavish, Alejandro Soffia, Bruce Engel, Finlay White, Alastair
Townsend, Li Wan, Sandy Bishop, Takashi Niwa, Gerrit Schilder Jr., Hill Scholte, who spent time answering
questions and reviewing case study drafts.
I must also thank Nancy Later for her editorial assistance and Jacqueline Golden for her copyediting and
encouragement. And finally, I am grateful to my husband Philip Straeter; his unwavering patience and
support allowed me to complete this book.
vi Acknowledgements
Figure Credits
1.1 Mud brick ice house in Iran. Source: © Adam Jones
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
1.2 Contemporary rammed earth house in Arizona, USA. Source: © David Quigley
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.3 Traditional mud brick house next to contemporary concrete home in Al Huwayah, Oman. Source:
© Bart Dooms
1.4 Agadez, Niger. Source: © Russell Scott
1.5 Rammed earth construction. Source: © Steve Hoge
1.6 Making mud bricks. Source: © Frank Stabel
1.7 Compacting earth with pneumatic backfill tamper. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
1.8 Cob combined with light wood frame construction. Source: © Natural Building Extravaganza
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
1.9 Making compressed earth blocks. Source: © Gustave Deghilage
1.10 Massive dry stone wall at Machu Picchu, Peru. Source: © Jorge Láscar
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.11 “The Slave” by Michelangelo. Source: © Scala/Art Resource, NY
1.12 Granite cobble stones. Source: © Onnola (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
1.13 Limestone wall. Source: © Martin Thomas (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.14 Marble flooring. Source: © Xlibber (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.15 Irregular stone wall. Source: © Stefan David (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
1.16 Stratified wall. Source: © Edgar Pierce (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.17 Squared ashlar wall. Source: © SEIER+SEIER (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
1.18 Emplecton wall. Source: © Harvey Barrison (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
1.19 Corbeled roof. Credit: Maxim Matusevich
1.20 Massive stone exterior of the Druk White Lotus School. Credit: Eryn Gaul
1.21 Massive stone foundations of the Gohar Khatoon Girls’ School. Source: © Sahar, Credit: Airokhsh
Faiz Qaisary
2.1 Traditional Japanese minka house in Japan. Source: © Tanaka Juuyoh
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.2 Reed structure built by the Al Shakamra tribe in Al Kuthra, Iraq. Credit: 318th Psychological
Operations Company, US Army
2.3 Common reed. Source: © The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell
University (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.4 Earth plaster with straw. Source: © Frank Stabel
2.5 Roof thatch installation. Source: © Bernard Marcia (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.6 Traditional thatched roof in Japan. Source: © Bryan (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
2.7 Straw bale house ca. 1926 in Nebraska, USA. Source: © Nebraska State Historical Society
2.8 Yusuhara Marche by Kengo Kuma & Associates. Source: © Takumi Ota Photography
2.9 Contemporary straw bale construction in Utah, USA. Source: © U.S. Department of Agriculture
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)
2.10a Prefabricated CLT and straw elements for the Gateway Building. Source: © Make Architects
2.10b The Gateway Building at the University of Nottingham. Source: © Make Architects
2.11 Wood detailing of the Villa Sørensen by Arne Jacobsen. Source: © SEIER+SEIER
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.12 Wood under a microscope at 40x magnification. Source: © GorissenM
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
2.13 Log cabin in Kansas, USA. Source: © Luke Lienau (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.14 German Fachwerkhaus. Source: © Michael Pollak (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Figure Credits vii
2.15a Mortise and tenon joint. Source: © Peter Alfred Hess (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.15b Half-lap joint. Source: © Peter Alfred Hess (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.16 Cross-laminated timber blocks. Source: © Oregon Department of Forestry
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
2.17 Haus Walpen, modified log construction. Source: © Lucia Degonda
2.18 Bamboo bridge in Vietnam. Source: © Vincent Hudry
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
2.19 Bamboo clump. Source: © Quinn Dombrowski (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
2.20 Bolo or Filipino bamboo knife. Credit: Elizabeth M. Golden
2.21 Bamboo shingles. Credit: Elizabeth M. Golden
2.22 Flattening bamboo culms. Credit: Elizabeth M. Golden
2.23 A contemporary bahay kubo before pegging and lashing. Credit: Kejia Zhang
2.24 Bamboo floor. Source: © Marlon E (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
2.25 Fish mouth joint. Credit: Buddy Burkhalter
2.26 Bahareque construction. Source: © José Antonio Rivas Ramírez
2.27 Laminated bamboo. Credit: Elizabeth M. Golden
2.28 Bamboo roof structure in vacation house by Mañosa & Company. Credit: Elizabeth M. Golden
3.1 Prefabricated rammed earth panels at the Ricola Kräuterzentrum. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
3.1.1 Onjuku Beach House exterior view. Source: © BAKOKO
3.1.2 CNC precut timber members. Source: © BAKOKO
3.1.3 Structural framing plan. Source: © BAKOKO
3.1.4 Timber frame assembly. Source: © BAKOKO
3.1.5 Main floor plan. Source: © BAKOKO
3.1.6 Living room. Source: © BAKOKO
3.2.1 View of Hostal Ritoque from south. Source: © Pablo Casals-Aguirre
3.2.2 Site plan. Source: © Gabriel Rudolphy + Alejandro Soffia Arquitectos
3.2.3 Exterior view. Source: © Juan Durán Sierralta
3.2.4 Plans and axonometric drawings of communal living spaces. Source: © Gabriel Rudolphy +
Alejandro Soffia Arquitectos
3.2.5 Wood framing. Source: © Gabriel Rudolphy + Alejandro Soffia Arquitectos
3.2.6 View from guesthouse. Source: © Pablo Casals-Aguirre
3.3.1 Niamey 2000 from southwest. Source: © united4design, credit Torsten Seidel
3.3.2 Ground-floor plan and longitudinal section. Source: © united4design
3.3.3 Compressed earth block construction. Source: © united4design, credit Mariam Kamara
3.3.4 Southeast corner from street. Source: © united4design, credit Torsten Seidel
3.3.5 Earth masonry vaults. Source: © united4design, credit Torsten Seidel
3.4.1 Two-story duplex in Iloilo City. Source: © Base
3.4.2 Cement bamboo frame construction. Source: © Base
3.4.3 Prefabricated bamboo elements after installation. Source: © Base
3.4.4 Home interior. Source: © Base
3.5.1 Panel assembly. Source: © ModCell
3.5.2 BaleHaus. Source: © ModCell
3.5.3 LILAC cohousing. Source: © ModCell
3.5.4 Section showing ModCell units clad with brick. Source: © ModCell
3.5.5 Shirehampton homes. Source: © ModCell
3.6.1 Ricola Kräuterzentrum from southwest. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
3.6.2 Ground-floor plan and longitudinal section. Source: © Herzog & de Meuron
3.6.3a Prefabricated rammed earth panels. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
3.6.3b Panel installation. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
3.6.3c Filling and tamping seams between panels. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
3.6.3d Earth render application on interior. Source: © Markus Bühler-Rasom
4.1 Members of the Women’s Opportunity Center construction team. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.1.1 Bird’s eye view of future Opera Village. Source: © Kéré Architecture
viii Figure Credits
4.1.2 Center for Health Care and Social Promotion from northwest. Source: © Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk
4.1.3 Ground-floor plan. Source: © Kéré Architecture
4.1.4 Building section. Source: © Kéré Architecture
4.1.5 Exterior wall section. Source: © Kéré Architecture
4.1.6 Interior courtyard. Source: © Kéré Architecture
4.1.7 Members of the construction team. Source: © Grünhelme, credit Till Gröner
4.2.1 Students constructing the daycare roof. Source: © Estudio Damgo, credit Ray Villanueva
4.2.2 Dungga Daycare from northwest. Source: © Estudio Damgo, credit Ray Villanueva
4.2.3 West elevation. Source: © Estudio Damgo, credit Ray Villanueva
4.2.4 Floor plan and transverse section. Source: © Estudio Damgo
4.2.5 Daycare interior. Source: © Estudio Damgo, credit Ray Villanueva
4.3.1 Common Ground Neighborhood. Source: © Mithun
4.3.2 One- and two-bedroom flex units. Source: © Mithun
4.3.3 Energy systems. Source: © Mithun
4.3.4 Straw bale construction crew. Source: © Mithun
4.3.5 Straw bale wall foundation. Source: © Mithun
4.3.6 Straw bale plaster finish. Source: © Mithun
4.4.1 Demonstration farm at Women’s Opportunity Center. Source: © Elizabeth Felicella
4.4.2 Site plan. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.4.3 Brick production. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.4.4 Brick form. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.4.5 Brick kiln. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.4.6 Coursing plans. Source: © Sharon Davis Design
4.4.7 Classroom interior. Source: © Elizabeth Felicella
4.5.1 Esperanza Dos. Source: © Al Borde, credit Andrea Vargas
4.5.2 Diagrams of structural system. Source: © Al Borde
4.5.3 Tripod construction. Source: © Al Borde
4.5.4 Interior of Esperanza Dos. Source: © Al Borde, credit Andrea Vargas
4.5.5 Community workshop. Source: © Al Borde
4.6.1 Ma’anqiao after 2011 earthquake. Credit: Jun Mu
4.6.2 Ma’anqiao after reconstruction. Credit: Li Wan
4.6.3 Constructing the house prototype. Credit: Jun Mu
4.6.4 House improvements. Credit: Li Wan
4.6.5 Reconstructed homes. Credit: Jun Mu
4.6.6 Ma’anqiao village center. Credit: Jun Mu
5.1 Cutting wood for Haus am Moor in Vorarlberg, Austria. Source: © Bernardo Bader Architekten
5.1.1 Visitor center on Lake Tåkern. Source: © Christian Badenfelt
5.1.2 Main entry. Source: © Åke E:son Lindman
5.1.3 Exhibit space. Source: © Åke E:son Lindman
5.1.4 Floor plan. Source: © Wingårdh Arkitektkontor
5.1.5 Thatch façade of visitor center. Source: © Åke E:son Lindman
5.1.6 Section detail. Source: © Wingårdh Arkitektkontor
5.1.7 Thatch installation. Source: © Wingårdh Arkitektkontor
5.2.1 Al Jahili Fort courtyard. Source: © Torsten Seidel
5.2.2 Site Plan. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.2.3 Reinstallation of timber beams. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.2.4 Base layer application of clay plaster. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.2.5 Environmental systems diagram. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.2.6 Cooling system installation. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.2.7 Café and arcade. Source: © Roswag & Jankowski Architekten
5.3.1 Visitor center exterior. Source: © Atelier TeamMinus
5.3.2 Diagram of significant sites surrounding the Jianamani Visitor Center. Source: © Atelier TeamMinus
5.3.3 Mani stones. Source: © Ken Marshall (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Figure Credits ix