What is Rammed Earth Construction?

**APOLOGIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE**
In this new series titled Sustainable Home, we will take you through a series of videos on how to build a sustainable home. At Aanandaa, we are building an innovative and creative home, which is as sustainable as possible. We have explored several construction technologies and designs to ensure we have the most natural, resilient and energy efficient home.
Sustainable architecture at Aanandaa is directed by Ar. Jitesh Malik from Studio Aureole. The integral design practice at their studio combines a commitment to environmental sensitivity with a contemporary design language and a pedagogical process. At Aananda, Jitesh creatively contextualised a diverse range of sustainable practices to collaboratively work towards an aesthetically enriching experience.
Studio Aureole team: Prabhjot, Richa, Mandav, Harshita and Tanvi
Collaborators/Experts: Lallan, Ashumi, Malvika (Mlime), Narayanji (Rohtak domes)
To know more about Studio Aureole see www.studioaureole.com or email [e-mail]
In this episode, we take you through Rammed Earth Construction. Our entire home is made of Rammed Earth, and in this episode, Bio-Architect Ashumi Jhaveri will talk you through the technique, benefits and details of rammed earth construction.
Ashumi will answer the following questions in this video:
What is Rammed Earth Construction
What is being built at Aanandaa
What are the steps of making a rammed earth wall
What are the benefits of Rammed Earth
What is the life of a rammed earth structure
She has also shared her email and contact details. If you would like to get your local artisans trained in rammed earth construction, you can email her at [e-mail] or [phone].
Subscribe to our channel to stay tuned into more videos around sustainable home.

[@kaylafisk871]

Love from Aotearoa new Zealand inspiration and utmost respect and love to you for your teaching and sharing of knowledge god bless you and your family

[@fbsfarm9910]

Thank you for this valuable information. My grandparents from both sides lived in houses made from earth here in Cyprus 100 years ago and the walls are still standing!

[@archbharat]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJraZoqNormbl9E

[@yogsei23]

Thank you team Aanandaa for sharing such inspiring content. Can't wait to see the final product. ✌

[@psjain126]

Omg it's beautiful ... earthy colour

[@vaibhavjain3234]

Thanks for sharing. This is a great introductory video into sustainable buildings

[@deepakbh7803]

Looking more vlogs regarding construction

[@farmaanandaa]

More to come!

[@iamgroot4706]

Excellent video, I wanna build a rammed earth house in my village, but i have lots to learn first. ☺

[@yogaforsuccess]

BEAUTIFUL

[@sj9918]

Beautiful 🌹👌🙏

[@ArpitaGhosh89]

Beautiful! So there's a brick and mortar foundation, right? Waiting for more videos and the final results! Thank you for sharing the process with us.

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes, correct. It's actually a stone and lime mortar foundation, with a plinth beam of concrete. We need that because we are in an earthquake prone zone.

[@timhowe2968]

Nice to hear they are using lime and not cement. I wish using lime and not cement was more common in other places.

[@kengjira590]

Thank you very very much for posting this useful information...I am a woman with limited amount of money and really want to build a rammed house, but I don't know where to start. In thailand, there are not many people building them yet.

[@farmaanandaa]

All the best!

[@ansarbabu-gi5kj]

is there any curing period required and how it will withstand when exposed to rains with our errosion etc

[@the_seekerslife1027]

Lots of love from Rajasthan for sharing superb video on conscious living.🙏🙏🙏❤️ Waiting for more videos 🙏🙏

[@farmaanandaa]

Very soon

[@sampreeth137]

can you plz give us the design mix I mean proportions of materials used it will be really help me for my 4th year project

[@madaven818]

Wonderful

[@ranarashid5829]

Ap shukriya ki haqdar hen for saving atmosphere rana Rashid from pk

[@farmaanandaa]

Bahut bahut shukriya

[@riturajsandhupeasant4885]

😊So beautiful pattern on walls, especially tree with root .

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes that was the idea of our architect Jitesh. 👍

[@sandeepgupta1568]

Thanks Aananda for introducing such a wonderful concept.

[@farmaanandaa]

Do share it with others!

[@ashumijhaveri9178]

Thank you manisha for this wonderful opportunity. it was a pleasure working at aananda.

[@farmaanandaa]

Pls thanks Jitesh Malik, our Chief Architect. He was the one who brought you on site. 😊

[@snehasishnath9279]

How did u calculate the quantity of lime required for the construction

[@anupam4672]

Thank you so much aananda and Manisha for such a useful information.

[@farmaanandaa]

Glad! There is more to come so stay tuned.

[@s.hdurrani3392]

You can put dall and rice water (after cooking) or gur water with lime. 2ndly use linseed oil on the out side to increase durability against rain and harsh sun. After "lipaee" We still use it and mostly these house are made in colder months from Oct till Feb

[@farmaanandaa]

There is no lipaaee in these walls. They are rammed and not made of cob

[@SureshKumar-gu4mj]

👌👌👌

[@davidfernandez2652]

Congratulations on choosing to go for a complete eco friendly project. Ashumi sounds so humble and down to earth unlike other architects. One thing that I'd like to know and understand is about the electrical wiring conduit system that you have choosen to go with or as Ashumi may have suggested as per design, and the other is about the plan for plumbing and drain system that you have planned. Could you please throw some light on the same and your responce would be highly appreciated. Warm Regards.

[@farmaanandaa]

Excellent question! Maybe we will do a follow up video on it. But unlike modern construction, in rammed earth we place all elwcteical and plumbing pipes before we start ramming. We actually ram the walls around them. So it needs a lot of pre planning.

[@mubasheerahmed4493]

Simply awesome..

[@farmaanandaa]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@rupeshvr3596]

Very good initiative... In Kerala there was a renowned engineer who propogated this idea... Baker... Kindly check that also since the structure will be load bearing.... So nice that traditional techniques are put to use... Good work madam

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes, you are right. His name is Laurie Baker.

[@RajeevBAgarwal]

Thanks for sharing this highly informative video. The best shot was the group foto in the end, with the dog too!!

[@farmaanandaa]

Glad you liked it

[@jubalrd8904]

Thank you so much for making this video and i have one question. How do you deal those small hole on the wall which is cause by the form works?

[@farmaanandaa]

We fill it with the earth mixture and hammer it. Will do a video on repairing the rammed earth wall

[@nofuchu]

I would have loved for the application of this method to be discussed on a multi-story building project. Great video

[@farmaanandaa]

We have built a first floor. So rammed earth can be used for multi level construction too

[@stillwatersnightsky6533]

In the south I have seen a lot of initiatives towards this way of construction..

[@farmaanandaa]

Indeed. The South is leading the way. Ashumi also works at Auroville.

[@monirahmedkhan]

What kind of lime is used? Where to buy it in India ?

[@user-D853]

❤

[@pragneshparekh7652]

Very interesting series for many of us. Just request you to prepare a video showing detailed plan, layout, material, labour, cost etc. so that one can get better idea. Of course the series will cover all these in parts but if you share detailed video at starting, it will be very useful to us. Even you can get some more ideas from viewers. Here are all points. Layout plan, parts of building, foundation, wall, directions, rooms, terrace, water tanks, kitchen, bathroom, furniture,, windows, doors, roof, storage, plaster, colors, maintenance, best season to start, use of stone, bricks, earthen blocks etc.

[@farmaanandaa]

We wont be sharing the plan and layout in detail.. after all it is our home and we would like to maintain some privacy. We will only be sharing technologies, materials and idea which others can implement on their projects.

[@pragneshparekh7652]

@@farmaanandaa 👌

[@end7550]

so much knowledge and so much inspiration in this video. this is awesome. thanks manisha and ashumi. a video about the foundation would be great! we are in the process of buying a farm in portugal and defo going to use lime plastering and hopefully rammed earth too

[@farmaanandaa]

Will do soon

[@mm3873]

great stuff. What is the recommended wall width for non-load bearing rammed earth walls?

[@farmaanandaa]

I'm not an expert but I think 9 inches

[@josephkahaya2773]

Thank you for this, how do you deal with the services going through the walls. do you chisel the wall ?

[@farmaanandaa]

No, you have to bury the pipes first and ram around them

[@BhavikLal]

First view.

[@kavitaahirrao]

Lovely!! It's looking very beautiful. What material you will be using for roof? Is it terracotta tiles? Or earth slab ? My daughter is curious to know. She loves your videos.

[@farmaanandaa]

Thank you! Thats a great question from your daughter. We have tried several different types of roofs around the house, and will share a video on each of them. Those are: Metal Pipe & Stone Filler Slab Wooden Roof Catalan Vault Rohtak Dome Madras Roof Metal and Board So stay tuned, and watch out for the next video!

[@nikhilsadalagi8079]

This is better than normal build

[@farmaanandaa]

Indeed

[@StephenCoorlas]

Great video and initiative to promote this building technique. Can rammed earth be used in cold temperature climates and endure snow and freeze/thaw cycles?

[@farmaanandaa]

I believe so. Rammed earth steuctures in Ladakh and Bhutan must be experiencing a lot of snow.

[@sateeshkurugod1]

Great efforts Aananda team ! Indeed a novel sustainable approach, demands lots of labour effort/ cost. May workout cost competitive only in areas where labour is available and very inexpensive!

[@farmaanandaa]

True

[@ashishsainik]

Very useful video and I appreciate all the effort that goes on creating these videos. Just one suggestion, the sound quality could be improved tremendously if you start to use clip-on microphone.

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes this one was particularly bad

[@motishing4904]

Good information🙏

[@farmaanandaa]

So nice of you

[@himanshusoni528]

Informative talk, thanks. What about drilling holes later, will that make the wall weaker, is that doable?

[@farmaanandaa]

We have hung a lot of paintings around the house. The walls get stronger with time and drilling is absolutely possible

[@mohammedbhatia2342]

I am glad to follow you "Aanandaa farm". This video simplifies the explanation of rammed earth construction and motivates me to start with it very soon. The whole process and construction clips induce my imagination and made me feel living in a rammed earth house. Does it smell earthy living inside these natural walls? I would love to visit your farm soon and have the experience of living in the natural adobe. Thank you Mrs Manisha lath gupta realizing the video for upload and a knowledgeable content from Ashumi Jhaveri(the Bio-architect)😊 I have noted your email 🤓 thank you for sharing

[@farmaanandaa]

Thank you. No the room does not smell earthy - but it smells fresh and non toxic. Even after the rains and humidity build up, it smells natural and clean, unlike a concrete room.

[@DipankarDixit]

Hi, if we are stablizing it with lime , what kind of lime should be used?

[@farmaanandaa]

Hydrated lime

[@Franal12]

Thanks for the video ❤️ How do you make the ceiling? Is it also from rammed earth?

[@farmaanandaa]

IN this structure, we made a roof with metal rafters and stone. Will share a video of that too!

[@pranabjyotin]

@@farmaanandaa Thanks for the nice introduction. Waiting for the video on how to make the roof.

[@difasmuyanja9371]

I like your project but how do you control weathering Difas from Uganda .

[@farmaanandaa]

You can give a coat of silicon to protect your walls, but its not really needed. The walla are quite weather proof

[@JR-ez8hd]

Very true what you said about the "Architect" tag in the beginning of the Video. I've experienced this. 😅. Very humble and true that we can directly contribute to the workers income and also keep the art / skill alive. Qus. Just generally, how would compare a Rammed Wall to a Stone+Lime Wall.. the types found in rural Rajasthan. Thanks

[@farmaanandaa]

They are comparable. Decision should be taken based on raw material and skill availability in your area

[@JR-ez8hd]

@@farmaanandaa Okay Mam. Thank You for your response.

[@gvermag]

Also, would love to know more about the foundation and roof. How they are laid?

[@farmaanandaa]

IN our case, we have laid the foundation with stone and lime mortar. After that we have made a plinth with cement mortar and steel. The wall is rammed on top of that.

[@l.e.sparklesfkaelliesparkl5875]

@@farmaanandaa So how does the rammed earth bond to the concrete plinth foundation? Thanks

[@soulofsri]

What is the Best size of wall thickness for duplex type rammed earth construction?

[@farmaanandaa]

We have gone with 16 inches where we have a FF

[@ani214]

7:00 what about rodent protection, how one can take precautions that rats don’t dig/ make holes later?

[@farmaanandaa]

Not seeing that as a challenge for now. Hope that never happens!

[@Shri_Hegde]

5:46 Do we need concrete pillers..?? i can in this video there is concrete pillers in the corner..

[@farmaanandaa]

Mostly for earthquake prone zones. The walls are load bearing by themselves

[@jaffarsamoon6711]

Nice , please share further details of this type of construction 📌👌❤️☑️🌹

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes, sure

[@kenchotshering1844]

how do you repair those small holes from the formwork?

[@farmaanandaa]

You stuff the same soil mix into the holes and hammer it by placing a block of wood on it. if you do it while the wall is fresh, it becomes almost seamless and invisible

[@peace8783]

@@farmaanandaa thank you so much😊

[@Shri_Hegde]

7:27 I can see sme company name on the wall (NOCSE may be ) Is this Precast wall ?

[@farmaanandaa]

That is the impression from the plywood shuttering, which got transferred into the earth wall

[@saladin333]

Great video with full of information. Thank you! A question wil remain: how to protect the wall from rain?

[@farmaanandaa]

If you have an overhanging roof, your wall will stay protected. Even otherwise there is no serious threat from rain. But you can spray a thin waterproofing coat of silicon on it.

[@saladin333]

@@farmaanandaa Thanks

[@downtoearth1705]

How many floors can you build on rammed earth and what thickeness is best for the walls ?

[@farmaanandaa]

We have used a wall thickness of 13.5 inches and made ground plus first floor. You can discuss with your architect and make a multi story structure too.

[@kriskumar420]

what is the minimum thickness of the wall needed, please explain

[@farmaanandaa]

About 9 inches should be fine. But we have made 13.5 or 16 inches

[@karanveer8735]

How the top slab is made? By cement or by soil?

[@farmaanandaa]

We have tried many different roofing systems. You can learn about them in the SustainableHouse playlist

[@sangeet358]

Wonderful Aanandaa team... keep us posted on the progress... one question.. is the cost of construction comparable to mainstream cement & steel structure on a per sq ft basis?

[@farmaanandaa]

It is. Only the ratio is different. In mainstream construction thr material:labour ratio is 70:30 , whereas here it is 30:70. So money goes to people.

[@sunilmathews8948]

How do they hold on during heavy rains? And Is the roof too constructed using this method?

[@farmaanandaa]

Absolutely! Even if it rains within a few days of being built, they don't give away. In fact we ended up making most of our walls between July and September - bang in the middle of the monsoon.

[@StephenCoorlas]

@@farmaanandaa Does this lime help to create an internal coating to protect from erosion due to rain fall?

[@MetalGearMk3]

This is old video, not sure if you'll reply but Are rammed earth home, legal structures in India?

[@farmaanandaa]

I believe they are now getting approvals in many cities

[@thoughfocus]

Mam if we use 10% lime or cement in rammed earth wall then it needs Water treatment after construction? Please reply

[@farmaanandaa]

We use only 5% lime and it's mixed with the earth and aggregate. It sets over time and does not need watering

[@lakmerocks]

Very nice ..one doubt .. if no one resides for months together and is not maintained ...does trees and plants start growing on the wall ? Pls reply .thank you

[@farmaanandaa]

No because the earth is so compacted that nothing can grow in it. Also when we make the mixture we ensure there is no organic matter in the earth

[@avijitbhattacharjee6497]

Your concept is very environment friendly... Just a query... As I live in Assam and soon going for the construction of my own house.. So considering the climatic condition, will it be worthy to go for rammed earth house? What will be the life of such houses? Is it earthquake resistent structure? Sustainable during rainy season? As our part experiences more rainy days than rest of India? Will the walls termite and moth resistent? Looking for your valuable guidance.

[@farmaanandaa]

In Assam you should study your vernacular architecture and take inspiration from it. I doubt it wiuld be rammed earth. I suspect more of a bamboo house on stilts

[@Neilsharma3940]

Hello Madam, Can I make rammed earth house as 2nd story on my concrete house. The reason as I stay in Chattisgarh and it is pretty hot in the house during summer time, so need your advise would it be viable to make second floor with rammed earth. What considerations should we take to start this project. Would love to speak to you or your team on this.

[@farmaanandaa]

Sudhir, it will depend on the ground floor structure I think, but it is best you consult an architect. The rammed earth walls are about 13 inches thick, and if your GF structure is with a 9 inch brick wall, you may not get the necessary support to make a rammed earth wall on the FF. But again, I am not a trained architect, so best you speak to one! Good luck!

[@namelessanonymous5216]

How was that tree image imprinted on the wall? Or is it an illusion?

[@farmaanandaa]

It was an experiment. We embedded a cut out of a tree on a piece of plywood within the shuttering and rammed with it.

[@namelessanonymous5216]

@@farmaanandaa very creative 👍

[@s.hdurrani3392]

Rammed earth is very old tech. Afghans do it. They also used mud wall❤

[@user-rh5jp2sh4s]

Do they compress heavily in a structure? in such a manner? and important is how the structure is sealed

[@BudgetCarnivore]

Are you trying any cob or earthbag structures?

[@farmaanandaa]

No, neither of those.

[@BudgetCarnivore]

@@farmaanandaa thanks for the reply

[@elliemay7839]

Some people even use diy scraped clay bricks with their own diy geo polymer concrete mortar

[@gardenestic5137]

would be great if you can tell the approximate costing

[@farmaanandaa]

About Rs200 to 250 per cu ft

[@alouamalimda129]

Top. Can you share the calculation to determine the quantity of earth, sand and cement?

[@farmaanandaa]

It's shared in the video. There is no cement or sand. Just earth, lime and aggregate.

[@alouamalimda129]

​@@farmaanandaa Thank you for the answer. I rather wanted to say, what is the dimension for a wall block made (width x height x depth)? How much earth, lime and aggregates did you use for this wall block (kilos or tonnes)?

[@philippedenis9132]

Bonjour Pourriez-vous traduire en français

[@farmaanandaa]

You can try to use a translator. We don't know French unfortunately

[@kelefeh]

Wonderful! Is this suitable for the tropics where it is hot and rainy?

[@farmaanandaa]

With a big overhanging roof it will be fine

[@kelefeh]

@@farmaanandaa thank you! Looking forward to try this out... probably half wall from ground up using rammed earth and the other half up to the ceiling using bamboo or wood 🤔 Great sharing from you guys as always, thanks again!

[@ishwarchouhan220]

Why do we use less water in it??

[@farmaanandaa]

Because we don't need to use more water. The mix is dry and wedon't have to cure the walls with water, unlike brick & mortar

[@khalidrashid2092]

Very good, but are these structures earthquake resistant ? Big question.

[@farmaanandaa]

Big answer is ... they are!

[@deepalihebbare8660]

Vow was looking for such type of house built,do Ashumi visits every site? Wd be eager to watch ,hw beautiful wd ur project look like

[@farmaanandaa]

You can check with Ashumi

[@ashumijhaveri9178]

Thank you Deepali.. you can contact me on the information provided, we can take it further from there. Thank you 😊

[@sunnybinni4799]

how much it cost for a double bedroom house with very normal design

[@farmaanandaa]

As much a a concrete house, but depends on the cost of the labour in your area

[@kriskumar420]

Can we build a compound wall with this technique?

[@farmaanandaa]

Why not

[@kriskumar420]

What is the minimum thickness of any wall we can build

[@ivankislitsin7861]

Я не понял, они просто трамбуют землю? Или глину? Если это просто земля или песок она же развалится после того как они закончат съёмку видео.

[@farmaanandaa]

It is primarily earth, mixed with lime and aggregate. It does not fall down after we finish filming the video!!

[@farmaanandaa]

В первую очередь это земля, смешанная с известью и заполнителем. Он не падает после того, как мы закончили снимать видео!

[@gvermag]

@6:37 you talked about insulation benefits. I doubt that. Because, what I gather from my school science is that earth heats up fast and cools down fast which explained the big daily temperature ranges in deserts. Any comments?

[@farmaanandaa]

You cannot compare the heating and cooling in a desert with that of a rammed earth house. Because a rammed earth house/ room is an enclosed structure. It can trap heat or cold within it. Stay tuned for a detailed video on how a rammed earth structure heats and cools itself. It is a combination of thermal mass and ventilation that makes it happen.

[@gvermag]

@@farmaanandaa kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2OkZp2fitJoa7c this video at around 2:40 clearly states that rammed earth constructions are not insulated. Though it doesn't explain why. Thinking a bit more about it, I asked myself why mud houses in villages remained cooler during oppressive summers especially in deserts . May be, thatched roofs and low height walls have greater roles to play there.

[@Mike-lu1pt]

​@@gvermag Rammed earth does not have to be insulated because of its thickness. If it were insulated, you are better shielded from outside temperatures, but that is offset by the thickness of the walls. I heard it takes 1 hour change 1 inch of rammed earth wall to the adjacent temperature. So regarding the video you linked, I think she means it's a con for rammed earth that you can't insulate it (unless you use SIRE wall), but the general consensus is that you don't need insulation for rammed earth. so it's a con, but not that big a deal.

[@pragneshparekh7652]

Are you using or planning for solar panels,solar cooker, solar dryer, biogas plant for farm and house? If yes, please prepare a video, If not, please go for it.

[@farmaanandaa]

We are planning some of those things, not all. They will be covered in the series.

[@kamugishaarthur2765]

After how long do you deshutter

[@farmaanandaa]

The next day

[@rajshreejoshi5511]

What will be the total costs of project if we are willing to construct 3bhk house 🏠 with this method

[@farmaanandaa]

Similar to a modern concrete cost of construction

[@nayan4121]

I love rammed earth. Kindly send me a video of rammed earth roof making

[@farmaanandaa]

Keep following our channel, you will see many videos on Earth Architecture here.

[@nayan4121]

@@farmaanandaa Thanks mam. Please help me, already I have started a small rammed earth house for self

[@alwayslearning7672]

So rammed earth is also good for cold climates?

[@farmaanandaa]

Yes

[@alwayslearning7672]

@@farmaanandaa Great!Would you say it's as good as Strawbale?

[@DaxxTerryGreen]

Excellent work my friends. I too am a rammed earth builder and I would LOVE to come visit and work with you. Please tell me how to do so? Peace

[@farmaanandaa]

We are located in India, near Chandigarh. We open our farm for visitors every Saturday. You can book a tour here www.aanandaa.com/event-calendar

[@vamsikrishnamylavarapu4929]

How much does it cost per sft? And how time it takes?

[@farmaanandaa]

Its very quick. It costs around 200- 200 per cu ft.

[@gobhatia123]

This looks great. How much does Ashumi charge for her services?

[@farmaanandaa]

You may pls contact her with your requirement, and she will let you know.

[@shahithashafeeq7643]

I have a doubt... I am from kerala. Is this type of construction is possible in kerala.

[@farmaanandaa]

Its done commonly at Auroville, which is similar climate as yours. So should be possible

[@shahithashafeeq7643]

@@farmaanandaa wow that's a very good information... I am looking forward to it. Eagerly waiting to the final rammed Earth house...

[@RajeevBAgarwal]

Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu are where most of the recent 'modern' earth-construction houses have been built. And a good percentage of those are of rammed earth. It all depends on the sub-soil types. Kerala's typical red-soil is most suitable for mud houses, and rammed earth too. The beautiful and popular laterite blocks of Kerala (and Konkan region) are manually cut out from sedimentary laterite rocks.

[@nayan4121]

What about the FOUNDATION

[@farmaanandaa]

The foundation can be made with brick or stone. In our case, we have made the foundation with stone and lime mortar.

[@saptarshisen007]

What is the cost per sqft?

[@farmaanandaa]

Depends on the thickness of the wall, the cost of the labour and raw materials like lime and gravel.

[@saptarshisen007]

@@farmaanandaa approx as per India?

[@elliemay7839]

As there foundation

[@eQ8r]

Well the email isn't available

[@farmaanandaa]

You can try the phone number then

[@eQ8r]

@@farmaanandaa i droped a SMS still no response

[@arunchalamjaijder920]

Nice sister can u please next vedio explain in tamil 🙏🙏

[@farmaanandaa]

Wow thats a tall order! Pls try to use closed captions in Tamil

[@elliemay7839]

There's diy geopolymer concrete make your own concrete slabs out of it instead of Portland crap Crete I like geo polymer concrete a lot better 👍

[@theaisfamily568]

Uttar Pradesh ki soil main rammed earth house bana sakte hain kya?

[@farmaanandaa]

Kyu nahin!

[@krishnatharu7415]

Hello mem

[@farmaanandaa]

Hello!