SLO LIFE Jun/Jly 2018

a symbol of Germany’s unification following World
War II, is a prime example of a modern-day rammed
earth structure. But, they are everywhere, including
the whimsical whitewashed cob cottages dotting the
English countryside, some of them dating back to the
16th century; The Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, built
between 1,000 and 1,450 A.D.; and, right here on the
Central Coast, on a ranch outside of Cambria.
Ten years ago, Atascadero-based Semmes & Co.
Builders, Inc., was asked to construct what is arguably
the most unique home in the area. Together, with
architect Ben Korman, the project melded all the
best of old and new. While rammed earth has been
providing much-needed shelter to our forbearers for
many millennia, the primary downside is that those
primitive structures were not seismically sound. Any
decent-sized earthquake can easily level an early version
of one of those homes. Today, as shakes are an everyday
reality in modern day California, that would not fly. So,
in addition to those ancient building techniques, steel
rebar is added. And, a 5% cement mixture is combined
with the soil because, as it turns out, concrete has more
tensile strength than goat’s blood.
With walls up to 24” thick, rammed earth structures
are essentially massive, primitive thermal batteries.
During the day, while the sun is beating down, the
building absorbs heat, then overnight it releases it.
The phenomenon is incredibly efficient and eliminates
the need for HVAC, although the building code does
require an auxiliary heating system, at least locally.
The Cambria home uses radiant floor heating, as
is common in modern-day rammed earth homes, >>
58 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JLY 2018