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HOUSES OF EARTH.

ANCIENT' METHOD REVIVED. EXPERIMENT IN AUCKLAND. The problem of housebuilding has'become bo acute throughout the world that architects and builders have at last been forced to investisate method* of construction other than the orthodox 'brick and timber building now so costly find difficult. Attention has recently turned in many countries to an old form of masonry known as-pise de terre, by which houses are built ofirammed eartli. This is in reality one of the most an* eient forms of construction, but in recent prosperous ages the fashion has turned to newer methods, and the pise de terre and cob houses of older countries are unknown to the generouslytimbered lands of Australia and New Zealand. The difficulties <# shortage of materials and labor, however, have begun to press so heavily upon even these countries that interest in the old method has been revived, and both in Australia and New Zealand exprimonts are now being made. These have already been carried out on a large scale in several Australian cities; tlioy have extended from four-roomed cottages to two-storeyed houses of 27 rooms, and very valuable experience has thus been pained. It has been shown that friable clay mtist not be used, nor any soil containing much sand, as houses thus built are apt to fritter away. Otherwise they have proved entirely weatherproof and in every way satisfactory. The first pise de terre house in Auckland is now in course of erection at Newmarket. The preparation of the earth has been completed, and the building of the walls was started this week. Tbe house is being erected for the purpose of determining the possibilities of earth-built dwellings as a means of alleviating the housing problem. It is hoped that the process will prove ao simple and easy to follow that any man in a country district may be able to erect himself a cottage with Unskilled labor, aided, of course, by full instructions as to how to proceed. The cottage in question is to be a flve.roomed one, and follows a simple type of architecture. The roof will be of iron, with the roof timbers affixed inj the ordinary way to the top of the walls.' Two laborers and a foreman will carry out the work, which consists pf ramming the prepared earth in wooden frames, which are moved as the walls harden. Experiments have shown that the earth hardens to a surprising extent, and when completed the walls are fully weather-proof. In the present instance the outer walls will be 15-in thick, and partitions lOin. The question: "Where will the earth come from?" is itlways one of the first asked in connection with such an enterprise as this. In the' case in question it has been procured by levelling the section. The architect estimates that 1200 cubic yards of earth will be r.e». quired for this five-roomed house, and it is anticipated, if the work goes on satisfactorily, the cost of erection will be little more than half the cost of a timber house of the same size. The walls will be white-washed outside and tinted inside; in some cases the outer surface is sprayed with hot liquid tar or given a rough cast finish. The experiment is being watched with very keen interest by architects and others interested in housing throughout the Dominion, and there is no doubt whatever that if this first pise house proves a success financially and otherwise, there will arise a great demand for others of,, the same type in every put of N«r Zsalaai

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19200828.2.52

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1920, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
590

HOUSES OF EARTH. Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1920, Page 5

HOUSES OF EARTH. Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1920, Page 5

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