EARTHSHIPS

Earthship Home. 1970

We see glossy buildings everyday. They are eye pleasing but may not be sustainable. On the other hand a group of people in the US, who not necessarily make glossy building but design sustainable buildings and the architecture is of the place;not an impostion on the site. Their architecture is called Earthship Biotecture. 

The model of Earthship architecture is based on three principles: 

• Sustainable architecture and materials should be either indigenous or recycled materials.
• The house should rely on natural energy resources and be independent from the grid. 
• the construction of the house should not need require a skilled labour.

The houses are often in U shape to enhance the natural light and solar gain during winter months with windows on sun facing walls allowing light and heat. The outer walls are made of earth rammed tires. The tire walls are strengthened by using concrete in the tires on the ends called concrete half blocks. On top of the tire walls are either tin can + concrete bond beams made from recycle cans joined by concrete or wooden bond beams. The internal non load bearing walls are often made of a honeycomb of recycled cans joined by concrete and are referred to as tin can walls. These walls are thickly plastered with clay. The roof is made using wooden support beams called vigas. The roof as well as the north, east and west facing walls are heavily insulated to prevent heat loss. 

The Earthship buildings are now found all over the world. Following are few images on functionality of buildings and the different buildings. 

Earthship, UK

Earthship, US