Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

II Built examples
As shown by the examples in this chapter, modern
houses whose principal building material is loam need
have no particular or characteristic type of outward
appearance. They can be traditional or modern, simple
or sophisticated, humble or exclusive. In cold climates,
the loam as a building material is normally not visible
from the outside, since it is covered by the necessary
additional thermal insulation and weather protection
materials. Interiors, however, can display a variety of
earth building techniques and their manifold applications.
In this chapter, various buildings of this kind are
documented, together with examples from warmer
climatic zones where less thermal insulation is needed;
these examples, hence, also display earthen exterior
surfaces.
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Introduction