Should you use traditional earth materials for your home?

Sometimes looking back at traditional materials and building techniques is the perfect way to go. It can give you the chance to choose greener, more sustainable options. There can be many other benefits too, including the performance. We want to have a closer look at some earth materials here because there is a lot more interest in them. Then, if you want to design a high end home, you can work with us to design the most impressive residential architecture in London.

Tradition

Historically, earth materials were a very popular choice for building. The simple fact that they were cheap and easily accessible made them the go to. Whether it was abode, cob, rammed earth, or wattle and daub, it gave rise to different options and building techniques.

The Victorian period was one of massive change for construction. Suddenly, manufacturers could produce fired bricks in large numbers. There were two big advantages; the costs were lower now and people could build faster with the bricks. Not surprisingly, brick became the material of choice. The development of concrete, including the ability to use it to create a wider array of structural elements, put earth materials even more on the back foot.

Today

Interestingly though, more and more people are now looking at traditional materials and techniques because they are greener and more sustainable than brick and concrete. They can also provide big benefits for properties, including tackling moisture problems and regulating the temperature more effectively. You should think about them if you're considering residential architecture in London or other parts of the UK.

Cob is one option that is getting a lot of attention at the moment. It involves a combination of clay subsoil, water, and typically straw or a similar material. Sometimes you can include sand or an aggregate to increase the strength. Cob was very popular in parts of Southern England, with some pre 17th century buildings still standing. Modern applications aim to build homes that have higher levels of insulation to meet current standards.

Rammed earth is really popular at the moment because of the aesthetics. The technique involves building a formwork with boards and then compressing a mix of sand, soil, gravel, and aggregate. When you remove the boards, you have lovely solid walls. They can vary in colour depending on the local soil. You can also include cement for stabilisation, but it compromises the green credentials.

There are similarities with adobe and cob; they use the exact same materials. However, adobe involves the creation of bricks and typically buildings are finished with mud mortar. This type of earthen construction is best for areas with dry climates.

The final option we want to look at is wattle and daub. There have been some interesting projects in the UK that use it. The idea is to create a wattle (a lattice) by weaving reeds or sticks together. Then, you daub a mix of water, clay, soil, and sometimes sand, straw or even seaweed, to cover it and fill in all the gaps.

What do you have in mind for residential architecture in London?

Coffey Residential knows all about the incredible history of construction, including the use of different building materials and techniques. Many ancient practices can work really well today to create lovely homes. You need to think which will b best for you, factoring in performance, sustainability, fire safety, building standards, and aesthetics.

Speak to us if you're looking to create an exceptional high end home. We have a great portfolio, including some of the most unique residential architecture in London. We'll work with you to explore exactly what you want and how to deliver it to the highest standard.