Unfired Earth: A comparative analysis for finding appropriate earthen construction technology as an alternative to kiln-burnt bricks

Abstract

Most of human civilization was once sheltered by earthen structures. Even today, approximately 1.7 billion people worldwide reside in earthen structures [1]. In the developing world, the raw earth is being replaced by its fired counterpart - the brick. But making fire mostly involves burning of fossil fuel – a non-renewable source that pollutes. In the age of standardization and rapidly evolving technology, the malleable and organic raw earth cannot compete. But perhaps the same ingenuity that gave us the brick can transform earth into something new that is fit for construction in the 21st century. This paper evaluates all the existing earthen technologies available; in an effort to determine the most practical unfired counterpart of the modern-day clay bricks.