TROPICALIZING RAMMED EARTH : VIABILITY OF RAMMED EARTH IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Concerns regarding global warming have been on the increase in recent years. Sustainability has been the talking point and the focus of many especially in the construction industry as buildings consume an enormous amount of resources during their lifetimes. Therefore there are constant searches for sustainable designs. Materiality is one aspect. Industrial materials such as steel and concrete are seen as less environmentally friendly and there is a constant search for possible substitutes for them. Earth has been introduced as a potential candidate. Earth architecture and its benefits are still highly unrecognized in the tropics due to the climate which many deem unsuitable. There are attempts of using earth in projects in the region. Nonetheless, earth architecture is still seen as one of low technology and for the less wealthy especially in a more developed country like Singapore. This dissertation thus seeks to explore the feasibility and applicability of rammed earth for usages such as low rise dwellings in an environment such as Singapore which is one of the more developed countries in the tropics. Apart from understanding the design and usage of rammed earth from literature and precedents, the context of Singapore will be studied. Interviews will be conducted with veteran architects who have had experiences with the usage of rammed earth in the tropics to achieve insight to the usage of rammed earth in the context of dwellings in Singapore. Discussions with earth and rammed earth specialists and the Building Construction Authority of Singapore will also guide the search into the potential uses of rammed earth for dwellings. This dissertation seeks to be a platform to promote understanding and usage of rammed earth in Singapore. With the extensive research, this dissertation aims to explore the viability and recommend the strategies of using rammed earth for dwellings with regard to the site and construction planning and processes. Discussion regarding the ways rammed earth can be used in tropical dwellings will also be done. Contextually influenced details, improvements to rammed earth and its construction based on new knowledge will also be recommended to suit Singapore and to localize the architecture.