Project Year: 2024

Location: New York​

Type: Material Research, Publication

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This experimentation is focusing on finding a methodology to cast “earth columns” using only sand and clay for the mixture and fabric as a formwork. A scaffolding structure was developed using cylindrical-shaped fabric formwork supported by wooden rings. 

 

From the research that was conducted and especially from the academic paper of Catherine Page Harris and Charlie O’Geen , it became obvious that using fabric as framework helps the unstabilized earth mixture to dry quicker limiting the possibility of cracking after uncasting the unstabilized earth. Therefore, for the following experimentation, fabric is used as framework to cast earth columns.

 

For the first phase of experimentation with poured earth, three different mixtures are tested according to the mixtures of Catherine Page Harris and Charlie O’Geen: a mixture of gypsum stabilized earth ( 70% sand, 26% clay, 4% gypsum), a mixture of lime stabilized earth ( 70% sand, 26% clay, 4% lime) and a mixture of unstabilized earth (70% sand, 30%  The amount of water was estimated in such a way that the mixture would be fluid enough to move but stable enough to not leak from the framework. clay).

For casting the mixtures, a fabric formwork in a cylindrical shape has been developed, supported by wooden rings and vertical wooden supports. Therefore, the framework resembles a scaffolding structure. After pouring the 3 different mixtures into the scaffolded fabric framework, the samples were shacked slightly so that the mixture could evenly flow. The gypsum stabilized sample solidified approximately after half an hour and the lime stabilized sample, after one and a half day, The unstabilized sample took its solid form after 2 days and from the first day it became obvious that it shrunk unlike the two other sample. The texture of the fabric has been imprinted on all of the samples. 

 

After establishing from the first phase that the unstabilized sample solidified successfully, for the second phase, the experiment is focusing only on the unstabilized version. We are building a longer formwork using the same materials in order to cast a column. After this step, the same procedure is followed for mixing and pouring the earth. The three columns that are constructed, can easily support a fabric in order to form a small installation or a canopy system.