Genius Materia (2023)
With the increasing demand for architectural practices to minimize environmental impact, reconsidering construction materials is essential. This project begins with one of the most primitive materials: earth. However, using earth presents significant limitations and numerous challenges.
This project investigates the basic characteristics of unstabilized rammed earth (URE) through literature and explores its potential applications in architecture. By researching existing rammed earth buildings and conducting hands-on experiments, the author aims to understand how the challenges of building with URE can advance contemporary practice. The project rejects regressive steps in modern discourse, instead aiming to create a future model rooted in historical context, seeking spatial qualities and timelessness and avoiding obsolescence.
In the design application, a Rammed Earth Column structure for a new Dom-Ino system is presented as an alternative to contemporary rammed earth architecture. The final output is the detailed-design of rammed earth structure that provides a physical platform with high material efficiency and spatial quality. The properties of earth determine the shape of the columns and ultimately govern the entire structural system and its details. This results in a unique spatial character that demonstrates the concept of “Genius Materia” (spirit of the material). Additionally, a half-scale mockup was manufactured to reflect the feedbacks from the material to the design process.
The entire process follows the framework of Material-based Design to study the potential of this methodology in the architectural context, as well as the material itself.
This project investigates the basic characteristics of unstabilized rammed earth (URE) through literature and explores its potential applications in architecture. By researching existing rammed earth buildings and conducting hands-on experiments, the author aims to understand how the challenges of building with URE can advance contemporary practice. The project rejects regressive steps in modern discourse, instead aiming to create a future model rooted in historical context, seeking spatial qualities and timelessness and avoiding obsolescence.
In the design application, a Rammed Earth Column structure for a new Dom-Ino system is presented as an alternative to contemporary rammed earth architecture. The final output is the detailed-design of rammed earth structure that provides a physical platform with high material efficiency and spatial quality. The properties of earth determine the shape of the columns and ultimately govern the entire structural system and its details. This results in a unique spatial character that demonstrates the concept of “Genius Materia” (spirit of the material). Additionally, a half-scale mockup was manufactured to reflect the feedbacks from the material to the design process.
The entire process follows the framework of Material-based Design to study the potential of this methodology in the architectural context, as well as the material itself.
