Raw earth
Rammed earth
Moist sandy-clay soil compacted in layers inside formwork until it sets rock-firm, leaving the strata visible like geology made by hand.
How it behaves
Dense mass that stores heat and coolth in bulk: ideal where days are hot and nights cold. Unstabilised walls fear standing water; generous eaves and plinths are part of the material.
Where it belongs
Fujian, China · Morocco · Bhutan and the Himalaya · Rajasthan
In a modern project
Exposed rammed-earth feature walls with lime or minimal cement stabilisation; prefabricated rammed panels cut formwork time on site.