Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

Residence and office at Bowen
Mountain, New South Wales,
Australia
The solar chimney exhausts warm air via
a funnel effect. In winter, a wood stove provides
additional heating as needed.
The lower storey has a 3000 mm load-bearing
wall of handmade adobes. The top
storey has a post-and-beam timber structure
with adobe infill of 250 mm externally
and 200 mm respectively 120 mm internally.
Walls are plastered on both sides with mud
plaster. The exterior plaster is stabilised with
cowdung. Large louvered glass openings
allow views to the bush landscape and provide
solar heat gain. A wood stove gives
additional heat in winter.
Architects and builders: Ray & Lynne Trappel,
Bowen Mountain, Australia
Completion: 2004
Area: 230 m 2 (residence) + 80 m 2 (office)
167
Residences