Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

Loam-filled hoses
A new technique, developed by the author
of this book, was used in 1992 for three residences
in Kassel, Germany. Though the
outward appearance of walls made by this
technique is similar to those made with the
technique for making stranglehm described
in chapter 8, the production, handling and
laying is quite different. With this technique,
an elastic cotton hose is filled with a lightweight
mineral loam mixture. The hose can
be filled either using a pump (see 10.23), or
by hand through a funnel (see 10.24 and
10.25). When the required length is reached,
the hose is cut and the end is stretched and
knotted. Owing to the reinforcement provided
by the fabric, these loam-filled hoses can
shaped easily without breaking, attractive
sculptural patterns can be created (see
10.28 and 10.30).
After laying and some drying, the surface
can be easily smoothed with a wet brush.
In the wall shown in 10.31, hoses 70 cm
in length are laid between vertical posts of
4 x 4 cm turned at 45°, or triangular elements
fixed to the main posts of the end
of the wall, shown in section in 10.29.
As a rule, three to five layers can be stacked
per day, but in order to increase this number
some cement can be added to speed up
the drying process. Chapter 13, p. 106
explains how these hoses can be used in
order to increase the thermal insulation of
walls.
10.26
10.27
10.28
then be easily handled. Before being laid
onto a wall, they are smoothed with the
hands so that some loam oozes and forms
a thin loam cover on the fabric. When
stacked, these loam coverings stick together
(10.26 and 10.27). Since these hoses can be
10.29
90
Tamped lightweight loam