Designing and Building a Sustainable Wall: Balancing Structure and Form with Material Interaction in the Local Context

Balance of Structure and Form in Wall Design

The wall model seeks to create a delicate balance between structure and form, forming a resting area under a suspended roof. Each unit within the design represents a small wing, giving the wall both a functional and aesthetic dimension simultaneously.

Local Context and Available Materials

The village is situated in an area populated with old rammed-earth houses, where experienced elder craftsmen work, possessing extensive expertise in handling local materials. Additionally, bamboo is abundant and constitutes a prominent local craft, while concrete, wooden formwork, and steel are easily accessible and sustainable materials.

Interaction Between Materials

The design prioritizes the interaction of different materials. Concrete piers elevate the rammed-earth walls, which in turn support the bamboo beams and columns. This dynamic interplay between materials creates a harmonious interactive dance between heavy and light textures, rigid and flexible elements.

Structure and Support

Bamboo, concrete beams, and steel columns stabilize the earthen walls, subsequently lifting the iron beams and wooden arches. The arched crown, extending outward in a suspended manner, achieves a precise visual and structural balance.

Visual Tension and Harmony

The design’s beauty relies on the contrast of materials: the weight of concrete, the thickness of rammed earth, the lightness of bamboo, the precision of steel, and the delicacy and thickness of wood. This contrast generates a pleasing visual tension and reflects the harmony of materials with the structural function of each building element.

Horizontal and Vertical Extension in Design

The long corridor forms a horizontal extension within the site, while the small wing represents a longitudinal extension. The second phase of the project is planned to include a small vertical tower, adding a vertical dimension that balances the horizontal and longitudinal movements within the space.

Accompanying Elements and Outdoor Spaces

In addition to the small wing, the design incorporates the entrance wing, parking area, and garden pathways, facilitating movement and encouraging the use of outdoor spaces. Stones for walking, benches, low fences, channels, and small bamboo-made mounds are also distributed to enhance the natural and interactive character of the garden.

Relaxation Area and Pomegranate Garden

Planting pomegranate trees will create an enjoyable space for strolling, relaxation, and garden appreciation. The combination of horizontal and vertical elements, distributed pathways, and planted trees provides a holistic sensory experience while offering a tranquil and attractive environment for visitors.

Repetition and Pattern in Unit Arrangement

Strength and form continue throughout the spatial extension. The units, arranged in rows, connect to a long corridor, forming a repeated and organized pattern that defines the inner and outer boundaries of the pomegranate garden, enhancing the sense of consistency and harmony within the space.

Arched Roof and Sensory Experience

The curved wooden roof features a dual-effect design: it is covered with dark gray asphalt on the exterior, while a bamboo membrane lines the interior, appearing dark from the outside and luminous from within. This contrast creates a sensation of soaring openness inside the spaces, with air flowing through the roof and wall gaps, giving occupants a sense of coolness and comfort.

Natural Frame and Interaction with Light

A dense bamboo forest extends opposite the house, allowing the arched roof to act as a natural frame for a picturesque view for visitors. Light and shadow play on the blue brick flooring and rammed-earth walls also play a crucial role in creating a lively, vibrant atmosphere, while enhancing the perception of depth and interaction between natural and structural materials.

Interaction Between Forces and Dimensions

The design reflects the interplay of forces, the continuity of form, and the expansion of space. Unlike horizontal corridors, which are sometimes described as “restrictive” due to limited movement, vertical wings provide greater stability. They enclose the space within walls while allowing corridors a limited area under the canopies, creating a balance between openness and enclosure.

Classification of Elements by Dimensions

Structural elements can be analyzed according to their dimensions:

• Wall unit: a fixed point.
• Corridors: one-dimensional space.
• Wings: two-dimensional area.
• Towers (in the second phase): three-dimensional height.

This progression illustrates how the experience transitions from grounded stability and spatial expansiveness to vertical elevation and multi-level spatial interaction.

Functional Roles of Elements

Each element plays a specific role within the spatial structure:

• Corridor: acts as a boundary between interior and exterior, organizing movement and experience.
• Wing: serves as a passage point, enabling transitions between spaces.
• Tower: a vertical element symbolizing spiritual elevation, providing a visual and aesthetic dimension to the space.

Building with Local Materials and Wet Construction Methods

The concrete piers, rammed-earth walls, and concrete beams were constructed on-site using wet construction methods, allowing for greater compatibility with the nature of the materials and ensuring structural durability.

Blending Tradition with Modernity

The village contains many old rammed-earth houses. Local soil was sourced and combined with existing soil to achieve sustainability and maintain harmony with the surrounding environment.

Material Preparation and Assembly

As bamboo products represent a local craft, bamboo beams and columns, wooden arches, iron beams, and bamboo benches were prefabricated before being transported to the site for assembly. This process not only preserves material quality but also ensures speed and efficiency in construction.

Respecting Local Characteristics

The design focuses on respecting the properties of materials and local construction methods, integrating tradition with modernity. This balance reflects the ability to innovate within a framework that honors the cultural and architectural context of the site.

Challenges in Construction Accuracy

Despite careful planning, several potential errors may arise in the project. The first involves construction precision, as on-site workmanship is relatively less accurate compared to the prefabrication of elements. This discrepancy can lead to assembly issues that require additional adjustments to ensure proper alignment between different components.

Material Performance and Interaction

Material shrinkage presents another challenge; rammed earth contracts significantly after construction, continuing for approximately six months, while concrete shrinkage is minimal. The interaction of different materials with each other may potentially cause structural damage if not closely monitored.

Monitoring and Improving Construction Accuracy

Although the project relies on advanced construction technology and basic rural facilities, improving construction accuracy remains essential to ensure subsequent processes are executed efficiently and smoothly, maintaining the structural quality of the project over the long term.

Application of Coatings and Material Protection

To ensure the protection of various materials, specialized coatings were applied for each type:

• Concrete: standard protective coating.
• Rammed-earth walls: water-resistant coating.
• Bamboo columns and beams: water-resistant and thermally insulated coating.
• Metal components (iron columns and steel beams): special fluorocarbon coating.
• Wooden arches: asphalt covering to ensure durability and weather resistance.

These measures underscore the importance of carefully selecting materials and treatment methods to maintain the project’s durability and sustainability.

Engineering Solutions to Ensure Balance and Stability

To address construction challenges and ensure compatibility between different materials, several engineering solutions were implemented:

Beam Openings and Structural Adaptation

Openings in the concrete beams were designed larger than the diameter of the steel rods, allowing the bamboo beams to move and adjust forward, backward, and laterally. This arrangement ensures structural flexibility during material shrinkage or movement.

Springs and Flexible Connections

Springs were added to the upper ends of the steel rods to adjust the spacing resulting from the shrinkage and settling of the rammed earth. The lower part of the bamboo column is connected to the concrete pier via a sliding joint, which will be replaced with a hinged connection after deformation is complete, providing additional flexibility while maintaining stability.

Formwork and Internal Bonding

Concrete and wooden formworks, especially for the concrete piers, were precisely positioned. Rammed earth was compacted and reinforced with an internal mesh to strengthen the bond between different materials, while protecting the earth during concrete beam casting to ensure structural strength and stability.

Material Treatment and Coatings

Specialized coatings were applied to each material to enhance durability and resistance:

• Concrete: standard protective coating.
• Rammed-earth walls: water-resistant coating.
• Bamboo columns and beams: water-resistant and thermally insulated coating.
• Metal components (steel columns and beams): fluorocarbon coating.
• Wooden arches: asphalt covering to ensure resistance and longevity.

These solutions reflect a balance between structural flexibility and durability, taking into account the physical properties of materials and their interaction to guarantee long-term stability and safety of the project.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The project offers a rich design experience in terms of material interaction and spatial use, featuring innovative solutions that balance sustainability with aesthetics. The technical details and attention to local materials demonstrate serious engineering thinking and integration of diverse elements. However, potential shrinkage of the rammed earth, reliance on high precision in prefabrication, and the need for careful on-site monitoring remain factors that require vigilance and continuous oversight. Therefore, it can be said that the project reflects an advanced understanding of sustainable construction, while emphasizing the importance of addressing practical challenges to ensure the desired long-term outcomes.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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