Rammed earth, also known as
taipa in Portuguese,
tapial or
tapia in Spanish,
tàpia in Catalan,
pisé (de terre) in French,
bijenica in Serbian, and
hāngtǔ (夯土) in Chinese, is a technique for
constructing foundations, floors, and walls using natural raw materials such as
earth,
chalk,
lime, or
gravel. It is an ancient method that has been revived recently
[when?] as a
sustainable building method.
Edifices formed of rammed earth are on every continent except
Antarctica, in a range of environments including
temperate, wet,
semiarid desert,
montane, and
tropical regions. The availability of suitable soil and a
building design appropriate for local
climatic conditions are the factors that favour its use.
