Dirt Cheap; The Sustainable Benefits of Earthbag Construction!

A sustainable building method that has been popular for years with the sustainable and off-the-grid community; Earthbag Construction is one of Sustainable Architecture’s best-kept secrets, here's why!

Earthbag Constructed Buildings are far from a new invention, in fact, they are quite the opposite. For millennia, Humans have built homes and shelters from the Earth beneath our feet. Unfortunately, however, somewhere along the way, we lost sight of our innate need for and connection to nature. With many modern-day homeowners perceiving the idea of Earthbags as primitive or unhygienic.

Contrary to this belief, however, they provide numerous human and planetary health benefits. One of the key benefits to Earthbag Buildings is the extreme cost savings, they are literally dirt cheap! Dirt to fill the bags is usually obtained right at the building site, eliminating the purchase and transportation costs of most traditional building materials.

Additionally, Earthbag Buildings provide natural insulation in the form of thermal mass, helping to keep the home cool in summer and warm in winter. This could easily be optimized through the incorporation of passive solar design to reduce artificial heating and cooling requirements. Earthbag Buildings are also great for Indoor Air Quality. Finally, the fill material is completely non-toxic and will not off-gas noxious fumes or Volatile Organic Compounds.

Earthbag Buildings are filling a unique niche in the growing quest for Sustainable Architecture. The bags can be filled with natural materials found on-site, which drastically decreases the embodied energy and carbon footprint that is commonly associated with the manufacturing and transportation of building materials. The plastic in the polypropylene bags, the cement aggregate, and the steel barbed wire used usually accounting roughly 5% of the total building material.

Structurally speaking, Earthbag Constructed Buildings tend to be extremely strong, and durable.

The materials used also make the home naturally fire-resistant and able to withstand extreme damp and dry climates equally well given that the fill material is generally composed of dirt and minerals. Thus, they are not subject to decomposition (even when damp), and are also not attractive to vermin, or prone to burning. Therefore, Earthbag Constructed homes will tend to outlast other homes. Earthbag Buildings have also been shown to withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters. Thus they are even being used around the world as emergency shelters, and to rebuild homes in emergency-stricken areas.

Earthbag Buildings are also uniquely versatile. Since they can be stacked in a wide variety of shapes, including domes, they have the potential to virtually eliminate the need for common tensile materials in the structure. This includes the wood and steel that are often used for roof construction. In doing so, Earthbag Buildings not only save more energy and decrease pollution, they even play an indirect role in helping save our forests. Allowing for much needed carbon sequestration.

Another unique aspect of Earthbag Buildings is the simplicity of their construction. Earthbag Buildings can be built by virtually anyone with access to sandbags and a bit of soil, making them both an attractive and affordable option. The most common way to approach Earthbag Construction is often by digging a trench on site, approximately to the mineral subsoil. The next step is to partially fill it with gravel to create a solid foundation for the structure.

Woven bags are then filled with the desired fill material and placed into the trench. Strands of barbed wire are placed in between each layer to avoid slippage of the bags. This also helps in resisting outward expansion of the walls. Each successive layer of filled bags is then offset by a half bag’s width; forming a staggered pattern. This is done in order to push down on the barbed wire, and essentially securing the bags in place.

After the walls are constructed, a roof can then be formed by gradually sloping the walls inward to create a dome or barrel-vaulted structure. A traditional roof can also be added, or there is also the option of adding a living roof to take the building’s sustainability over the edge. Windows and doors can then be created using masonry lintel or brick-arch building techniques. Some buildings even opt for skylights to be added during construction by placing bottles between the rows of bags to create the desired gap. An exposed outer surface needs to be added to the Earthbag Construction - usually comprised of cement-based stucco, lime or earthen plaster - to prevent damage from external factors such as moisture or UV rays in the long run.

When constructing the common Earthbag Buildings, Solid-weave polypropylene bags tend to be the most popular choice to use. This is due to their water-damage, rot, and insect resistance. However, other natural fibers such as hemp and burlap can be used, provided they are filled with a high-percentage clay material. The clay helps the bags sculpt themselves more securely around the barbed wire. Thus improving the tensile strength and durability of the walls. Other options, such as sand, stone dust, and gravel, that have the capacity to survive prolonged soaking or flood conditions better can also be used. However, they may need special bracing during construction.

Another factor to take into consideration when deciding what to use as a fill material is the material’s thermal insulating properties. This is particularly important when building in climates that experience either extremes of temperature. Clay and sand both have good thermal and heat retentions capacities, making them a good choice for passive solar design in cooler climates, given that they keep the internal temperature of the structure fairly stable throughout the year.

Earthbag Buildings may seem a thing of the past, but they’re unique ability to solve pressing present problems such as Climate Change, makes them worth considering in this new and every-changing world. We have observed time and time again that Nature is the most inspirational and creative designer. It is time for us to return to the abundance it has to offer us, and start designing in alignment with the beauty of natural forces, rather than against them, and see if anything changes. My bet is they will.

Video Courtesy of EcoPeace Middle East

Arisan Woods Sustainable Luxury Home Décor In Grimsby, Ontario

I recently had the honor and pleasure of speaking with woodworker, environmentalist and inspiration Aaron Grant of Arisan Woods. I first met Aaron at the Buy Good Feel Good Expo, where I was drawn in by the gorgeous pieces and interesting concept, reflecting an approach to design, home décor and woodworking that we could all benefit from; beautiful altruism. Never using clear-cut wood, their pieces and inspiration come from fallen trees, or trees that have had to come down for one reason or another. It was incredible hearing Aaron’s story and I’m excited to share it with you.

"Well honestly, the Buy Good Feel Good Expo was the soft launch for our new concept, Arisan Woods. I have been woodworking for 12 years, but only recently got into the business of selling it. My wife Corne, and I live in Grimsby Ontario, but I was working a corporate job in Toronto that had me commuting in a car for four hours a day. I hated it, and I started getting sciatic pain from all the time spent sitting and driving. I also couldn’t stand to spend so much time away from my family. So, two years ago I decided to quit and my wife Corne and I started working on Arisan Woods full time."

They make and sell luxury home décor items, including benches, coffee tables, cutting and curing boards, world maps and other inspiring pieces, out of ethically sourced wood. Their wood comes mostly from fallen trees, or trees that have had to come down due for one reason or another, such as pruning. It is mostly local or Canadian wood, with a few exceptions. They try to make sure that each piece of wood has a story, or at least a story of how they found it. This is at the heart of the work they do, and allows for the production of "for example, I found the maple wood for the bench crawling through a barn in the dark at 7pm in November two years ago. It just called out to me and I had to do something with it. However, we really started doing this to teach our kids to give back as much as they take, if not more. We wanted them to see the ways in which they can start to reduce their carbon footprint, and to be involved in the process and learn how they can give back. It was also important to us to try and create a better world for them."

While all their work is undoubtedly unique, I think their most standout pieces would have to be their coffee tables; they really are one of a kind. Each possessing a unique story, translated through the grains of the wood. "One of my favorites is the Big Leaf Maple wood coffee table; the piece came from a tree in BC that’s 100 years old!" The couple also makes and sells smaller home décor items, such as curing and cutting boards, carved world maps, wine holders as well as customized items. Each embracing their altruistic concept and posessing a beautiful story; making for functional items that double as intriguing conversation pieces. Each of their items is carefully handcrafted with the credo “if we wouldn’t want it in our home, we won’t allow it in yours.”

As an aspiring woodworker myself I was curious about the process, and the time it would take to produce their astounding pieces. "It is really difficult to say honestly, woodworking is funny like that. You need to wait to get inspired by the wood, wait for it speak to you. For instance I sat on a piece for 3 years, before completing it. It would also depend on the piece itself, and the condition its in; each one is unique. You’d also have to wait for the wood to dry before doing anything with it. Then wait for it to cure when you’re done, it really is a long game. Woodworking takes a lot of patience you can’t rush it. It is essentially a process of subtraction with the goal of bringing out the personality of the wood. It’s a dangerous game , because you don’t want to go too far and ruin the piece, it almost happened with one of the coffee tables, but I caught myself just in time!"

Their approach to design, and understanding of the wood, starting with sourcing and carried out throughout the production process, makes for an unparalleled portfolio of work that breathes life back into the wood. Inspired by the natural beauty of the woods they work with, Aaron & Corné often aren’t entirely sure what the finished item will look like as it comes alive under their hands. They even offer to create customized pieces, like these custom river tables, which beautifully complement and enliven any space, with the hopes doing the same to our forests.

The Buy Good Feel Good's mandate is to help support and promote ethical businesses like Arisan Woods. Their goal is to replenish our forests, and support reforestation by planting trees for every product sold. They've partnered with Matt Hill from the initiative One Tree Planted, a global initiative that makes planting trees easier. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80% of the world's biodiversity. Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in one quarter of all medicines. With their help, Arisan Woods has managed to plant 500 trees in BC from the products sold at the Buy Good Feel Good Expo, and hope to plant many more.

With all this under their belt, I bet we'd all like to know more about what the future is looking like for Arisan Woods. "Our vision for the near future is to give people who purchase some of our high-end products, the choice of where to plant their own trees. In the hopes of getting people more involved in the process of giving back, since we all share the simple joy of being in and a part of nature." I believe there is infinite wisdom in this approach, and understanding, and their work truly does reflect this connection we have with nature, by attempting to bring life back into our "living" spaces and forests.

Healthy Housing - Collett Manor In Kelowna B.C To Be Canada’s First WELL Certified Building

Strategically located across the Kelowna General Hospital; Collett Manor, a mixed-used development and residence building for the families and caregivers of patients at KGH, has helped put Kelowna B.C. on the map.

Initiated by Alana Marrington of 2169 Pandosy, and brought to life by GTA Architecture Ltd., this project aims to integrate hospitality into healthcare, filling a long-empty gap in the area’s medical landscape. It will also be Canada’s first WELL Certified project, through its pursuit in making health and well-being a priority.

A “multi-leveled integration of living,” composed of a 4-storey building that houses 41 residential units of various capacities, including short-stay, long-stay and permanent residences, as well as medical and office spaces offering support and treatment.

These spaces have been thoughtfully designed to encourage positive and healing energies. Having the goal of creating comfortable, healing spaces for patients and caregivers as they navigate the healthcare system, Alana Marrington describes the spaces as ones "that adapt to life, offering serenity, peace, respect and dignity”.

This project aligns with a philosophy being pioneered by Paul Scialla of Delos Living. Encompassing the WELL Certification - which is a third-party-certification process by Green Business Certification Inc. and in collaboration with the MayoCIinic - there are scientifically validated criteria which positively impact health, vitality and bring an overall sense of relaxation into a development. By integrating concepts such as air quality, water quality, nourishment, fitness, comfort, light, mind and innovation, a project can be deemed WELL certified.

These concepts have been embraced as part of the fundamental design guidelines and features of the project, making it Canada’s first WELL Certified development, including:

• Flexible wall systems by KI that allow for transformability within the spaces.

• Warm board radiant heating.

• Innovative Nano-Silver flooring material that deactivates bacteria and harmful substances.

• Nest Smoke and CO2 Detectors and Thermostats.

• Technologically advanced connectivity to unit – August remote keyless entry

• American Clay walls – a healthy and creative solution for beautiful interiors.

• Entirely Edible and Non-Toxic Landscaping.

• Oversized and Accessible Doors and Hallways.

• Anti-Microbial Corian Countertops.

• Touchless Faucets.

• Sustainable Kitchens that are LEED and WELL certification compliant.

Through research healthcare practices and studies, construction materials, and psychology, this project and the concepts being explored aim to change the narrative on wellbeing and design, while inspiring other facilities and communities to do the same.