{"id":10852,"date":"2016-07-28T20:31:37","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T11:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tekuto.com\/?page_id=10852"},"modified":"2021-08-02T14:36:54","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T05:36:54","slug":"earth-bricks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tekuto.com\/en\/story\/earth-bricks","title":{"rendered":"Earth Bricks\/ \u571f\u30d7\u30ed\u30b8\u30a7\u30af\u30c8"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Social Background<\/h2>\n

The modern architecture movement, which started in the early 1900s, utilized new mass produced materials such as steel, glass and concrete. Given this as a technological base, and using the same materials, buildings with a unified vocabulary were reproduced all over the world.<\/p>\n

This method was a success in supplying inexpensive functional houses to the rapidly growing population in the urban areas. However it resulted in a loss of the uniqueness in the locality and of the individuality of places. This was disaster in terms of architecture trying to use region\u2010specific materials or architecture that is specific to the climate of the region.<\/p>\n

In addition, an enormous amount of energy has been used\/required to produce iron\/steel, glass and concrete. It is time that we as architects consider the drastic change to the mechanism of producing architectural buildings.\u00a0 The global awareness of the limited resources on earth, improvements to the environment and various attempts across different sectors are required.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/p>\n

Why earth?<\/h2>\n

Soil came into being 4 billion years ago. It was generated through a combination of dead organisms and grains of minerals. Soil has been, and will continue to be a cradle of life.<\/p>\n

Since the birth of mankind, humans have been creating their dwellings with their hand using the materials at hand. They would sometimes use wood, and stones on other occasions depending on availability.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the soil, the material is available everywhere in the world, and there is no concern of depletion.<\/p>\n

This is the reason we decided to develop a new architectural component using basically soil only, by adding scarce amounts of natural additives.<\/p>\n

We started our researches in three directions.\u00a0 To formulate a new architectural model of \u201csoil + natural additives\u201d which can be 100% recycled, to develop new architectural technologies that can be easily applied in scenes of natural disasters in and out of Japan, and to improve the specification of existing buildings using soil.<\/p>\n

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Project Team<\/h2>\n

Development of a new construction method and material involves various difficulties. In developing a structure using soil, we formed a project team with University of Tokyo, Waseda University for researches, corporations for providing materials and technical support, and the architects for design and structural calculations.<\/p>\n

This endeavor was made possible through the collaboration of various knowledgeable and experienced experts from both the private sector and the academic field.<\/p>\n

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Experiments<\/h2>\n

The \u201cEarth Project\u201d started in 2008, it was developed together with Universities, private enterprises and specialist gathering available information on construction from the \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d around the world. Besides it, we made translation and publication of the book \u201cBuilding with Earth\u201d by Gernot Minke, who has done significant research on earth architecture in Germany.<\/p>\n

Various experiments were made on verification of natural additive mixed with the soil in order to fulfill existing structural regulations with minimal impact on environment.\u00a0 There were materials mix ratio examinations and compressive strength tests conducted under instruction of Professor Naoyuki Koshiishi in his material research laboratory in Waseda University. Also shear experiment of \u201cEarth Brick\u201d construction methods and full size wall mock-up built under the guidance of Professor Shuichi Matsumura in the University of Tokyo. Various questions, such as structure requirements, a form of bricks and molds, and masonry joints treatment were able to be cleared during these tests.<\/p>\n

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Magnesium oxide<\/h2>\n

The conclusion at which our project team arrived through research investigations, various experiments and verification was to use “magnesium oxide” as natural hardening medium. The “magnesium oxide” obtained by boiling sea water is a material of the natural origin which is not exhausted from the earth, as long as there is the sea.
\n<\/span>“Soil” which can be found anywhere on the land, and “magnesium oxide” collected from a vast ocean are mixed \u00a0together to realize a firm soil structure “earth bricks” that was not possible from the sun-dried bricks.<\/p>\n

This earth bricks are 100% recyclable material of natural origin, can be biodegrade so that building return to soil without harm to environment.<\/p>\n

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Client<\/h2>\n

After starting research, the clients who were fascinated by Tekuto\u2019s design approach using natural materials and alternative construction methods appeared for 18 months.<\/p>\n

There is no structure category \u201cSoil Structure\u201d in the Japanese Building Code, and masonry is the only way to use soil as a structural material. There are couples of condition we need to clear to use Earth Bricks structure more effectively.\u00a0 Cleared various conditions, Atelier Tekuto has finally started\u00a0 to build an architecture with \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Process of making earth bricks<\/h2>\n

The construction process was also continuation of trial and error. Collection of soil, analysis of particle size, appropriate mix ratio, experiments with form-work for the bricks production, pouring and de-type of the bricks, the setting of the curing period while controlling temperature and humidity. \u00a0Almost every process was examined on the site for the first time. To form the curved walls we needed to produce over the dozens of various brick\u2019s shapes. Tekuto\u2019s team also went to the site duty along with professional craftsmen to work on the house construction and production of the \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d. Both clients also participated in the construction.<\/p>\n

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The art of architecture<\/h2>\n

Architecture is composite art. Not only the structure, we have put various architectural ideas everywhere of the building.
\nThe roof is hybrid frame made of steel and wood, covering complex shape of the house with the simple frame structure. The natural ventilation system is also installed in the top part.
\nBetween the break wall and the roof, there is the steel beam and the belt of semi-transparent “glass bricks” where installed \u201cGlass bricks\u201d are creating ambient indirect interior illumination of the house.
\nIn the kitchen and the bathroom there were wooden panels used called LVL (Laminated veneer lumber.) The floor, kitchen and bathtub are finished with custom-made terrazzo.<\/p>\n

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“Earth Bricks” completion<\/h2>\n

After beginning research on the soil structure about 3 years have passed. The \u201cEarth Project\u201d using the Earth Bricks structure completion was possible through the great cooperation of members of our multidisciplinary team: research institutions, private enterprises, Tekuto\u2019s team and the clients.
\nAfter completion of the house we have continued our analysis of the \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d building performance. We could observe \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d aging behavior and collect the data of indoor and outdoor environments based on clients feedback.
\nMoreover, the patent for the \u201cEarth Bricks\u201d structure was acquired through an examination in 2015.<\/p>\n

\uff1e\u300cEarth Bricks\u300d\u306e\u30da\u30fc\u30b8\u306f\u3053\u3061\u3089<\/a><\/p>\n

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Next step<\/h2>\n

While construction of the house from the “Earth Bricks” was progressing, the Great East Japan Earthquake happened on March 11 in 2011. Huge tsunami attacked the north-east coast destroying many houses on its away. \u00a0Merciless wreckage and the soil containing salt from the sea water were left after this disaster.<\/p>\n

Magnesium oxide from the sea water origin is blended into an “Earth Bricks.”\u00a0Although it cannot be used as farmland soil any longer, the soil which has absorbed salt after tsunami can be used for production of the \u00abearth bricks” effectively.<\/p>\n

We would like to apply the know-how of an “Earth Bricks” structure, and develop “Earth Bricks” manufacture as part of post-disaster housing recovery program.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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