Has anyone participated in either David Easton (www.rammedearthworks.com) or Quentin Branch's (http://www.rammedearthhomes.com) workshops? I'm looking to get me some edumucation and would be curious to hear feedback from other folks that know these two dudes.

dude, just grab some clay, concrete and water and start experimenting

some hippie on Saltspring island in British Columbia does a few, not a bad place to spend a week either.

Holz - I got no land, and my 2nd story apartment is an imperfect laboratory for experimenting with mud construction.

Anyone with experience with either of these two guys?

Man,
I love me some rammed earth.
Have you seen the recent Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects (Vancouver, BC)
RAIC 2008 Award winner.



link

I recently came across this website also...
http://rammedearth.blogspot.com/

the hotson bakker project is really nice. really really nice.

we had Quentin working with us a few years back on a custom home...
(in Vegas) long story short, the owners and the construction schedule (ie... typical custom start-stop-hurry-wait) didn't suite an out of town sub but he educated the general contractor well and left on good terms...

when ever that G.C. talks rammed earth with us now he jokes... "hold on, let me go get my sandals on"... (guess its funny if you are there)

good luck Janosh, rammed earth can really be special... how are you thinking of using it?

Thanks Sayyes - having been around adobe for a while I know exactly what you are saying about the sandals. But the cool thing about the earthbuilding community is it allows for people that love so-called toxin free construction to come together with those who are looking for superior resistance against small arms fire.

I'm in the planning stages of building my own hybrid rammed earth-adobe-tent dwelling out in the hinterlands of Southern California. I'm kind of using it as a test case, so I'm looking to get some hands on experience with RE before I start experimenting on myself. Probably the idea is to create some RE site walls, and then a portion of the main building out of rammed earth to about 48" with adobe to complete the full height wall. Roofs will probably be of a double membrane - material TBD.

holz

I will be in Seattle this weekend again. Lets ram some earth...or at least drink some brews

Janosh,
This passage from your posting is brilliant!

"But the cool thing about the earthbuilding community is it allows for people that love so-called toxin free construction to come together with those who are looking for superior resistance against small arms fire."

mdler....you ram earth you slam beers!

The failings of Auburn University's Rural Studio? Too humid? Cracked to shit?

Huh?

her nickname was "earth"

Please take a look at the website http://www.eartharchitecture.org -- check the events sections for upcoming earth architecture events and pre-order the book if you are interested (gratuitous plug)!

p.s. Quentin Branch is a very talented guy and a great teacher (former math teacher i believe).