Creator: Adam, E.A.; Agib, A.R.A. Creators: Adam, E.A.; Agib, A.R.A. Publisher: UNESCO Date: July 2001 Language: English Keywords: educational buildings; construction engineering; building design; building materials; soils; Sudan Coverage: Sudan Extent: 101 pages; illustrations Abstract: Co-financed by AGFUND and AFESD, the main component of the project was to construct the El Haj Yousif School in the Khartoum area using compressed stablised earth block building technology, a practical way of dernonstrating the potential of earth as a viable and desirable construction material. In order to make the knowledge acquired during the construction process of Ei Haj as i Pit ree mae frig Paes } + ure in Sudan’ Mag : cotes wn Saswdeves” » ad farth Block Yousif school widely available, this publication “Compressed bye and a twin publication ‘Reefing Systerns in Sudan’ have iy been ty AES vibe ty +) TE9 wan deeses Gyretesesres des Gevedeaea” prepared. Earth as a construction material has been used for thousands of years by civilisations all over the world. Many different techniques have been developed, the methods used vary according to the local climate and environment as well as local traditions and customs. As a modest estimate it is thought that as many as 30% of the world’s population live in a home constructed in earth (Houben & Guilaud, 1994: pé6). Despite these very significant figures, earth construction in many parts of the world particularly in developing countries, is considered to be a construction material for the poor and deterioration hence undesirable. in the Loss of traditional quality of recent earth knowledge constructions has, resulting in many in a cases, compounded these beliefs. In recent years, however, the potential for earth as a valuable and desirable construction material is being rediscovered. Methods derived frorm the traditional techniques are being developed to irnprove the quality of earth construction and broaden the potential for its application. Earth construction is very cost effective, energy efficient (excellent thermal properties and low energy input required for production), environmentally friendly, and safe, qualities which are particularly relevant and important with the ever growing need for increased awareness to reduce energy consumption world wide. Governments, international and national organisations who are involved in the domain of construction all have a responsibility to recognise earth’s potential as a construction material and promote tts use through applications so as to help re-integrate it into common research and practical construction practices. |
Compressed stabilised earth block manufacture in Sudan / E.A. Adam in collaboration with A.R.A. Agib