Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

Loam in bathrooms
The assertion that a loam-finished bathroom
is more hygienic than a tiled bathroom
astonishes many. Both experiences
over several years with bathrooms having
loam walls and scientific investigations
regarding the absorptive and desorptive
behaviour of loam have, however, demonstrated
this assertion.
Mirrors in a bathroom that is tiled up to the
ceiling have been observed to fog up after
a normal hot shower. With doors and windows
closed, the mirror remains fogged up
to a period of 30 to 60 minutes after the
shower. In a bathroom with loam walls,
by contrast, the mirror clears under similar
conditions in only 3 to 6 minutes. This is
because loam walls absorb humidity from
the room when its relative humidity is higher
than about 50%, and release it later
when the air humidity falls below about
50% (see also chapter 1, p. 14).
Since humidity in bathrooms with loam
walls reduces quickly, fungus growth cannot
occur, whereas in tiled bathrooms, the
humidity remains high over a longer period
due to the sealed surfaces, allowing fungus
growth in the joints of the tiles, especially
joints grouted with silicone material. While
14.78
14.78 Loam wallpaper
14.79 Bathroom, private
residence in Kassel,
Germany
14.80 Sanitary objects
covered by loam-filled
hoses
14.81 Wash basin, private
residence in Kassel, Germany
14.79
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Designs of building elements