On the 30th of March 2017, the Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design at Ain Shams University (IUSD-Lab Cairo) together with the Egyptian Earth Construction Association (EECA) have organized a three days workshop on Building with Earth. The event was hosted at “Marzouk” farm; a private farm located in Obour City, Cairo; whose owners are interested in organic farming and sustainability, and with human interaction with Earth and mutual learning.

The workshop aimed at providing the participants with a practical Hands-on training focusing on the techniques of building with Rammed Earth and Compressed Earth Blocks. The participants were introduced to a brief theoretical introduction including a historical background on earth buildings around the world, soil analysis, and classification, the production of earth building materials, in addition to soil mixture design and water content.

Throughout the workshop, the participants were able to make field soil analysis and identify different types of soils on site; they were trained to prepare the appropriate mixture for Rammed Earth, CEB, and mortar. Moreover, they were trained on operating the CEB manual press, installing and dismantling the rammed earth formwork, and manual ramming of the walls.

The workshop was prepared and moderated by the two architects Rasha Abodeeb and Mona Farouk, who were able to transfer fundamental knowledge about earth building techniques to the participants and encourage them to get involved in practical application on site. The group of different aged participants; including children, young people, and adults, was highly enthusiastic and cooperative, with a lot of passion for learning and practicing with their hands. This effort was supported by the following highly dedicated individuals: Mennah Metwally, Basem Mosallam, Mohamed Elfiky, Shadwa Negm, Aya Mosaad, Mennatullah Essam, Saeed El-Gendy, Eng. Abdelsalam Abodeeb, Eng. Mahmoud Qandeel, Ali El-Mahdy, Moatasem Hany, Mahmoud Yousef (mason), Morsy, Haggag & Eng. Ahmed Marzouk.

 

Morning stretching @Basem Mosallam

Morning stretching
@Basem Mosallam

Theoretical introduction to "Building with Earth" @Mennah Metwally

Theoretical introduction to “Building with Earth”
@Mennah Metwally

 

Different types of soils prepared for field testing @IUSD

Different types of soils prepared for field testing
@IUSD

Field testing. Sedimentation test for different types of soils @Mennah Metwally

Field testing. Sedimentation test for different types of soils
@Mennah Metwally

 

Field testing. Porosity test @IUSD

Field testing. Porosity test
@IUSD

CEB machine, developed by IUSD lab Cairo @IUSD

CEB machine, developed by IUSD lab Cairo
@IUSD

 

Training on using the CEB machine @IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine
@IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine @IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine
@IUSD

 

Compressed Earth Blocks, previously cured @IUSD

Compressed Earth Blocks, previously cured
@IUSD

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures @Basem Mosallam

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures
@Basem Mosallam

 

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures @IUSD

Explaining the design, site preparations, and the construction procedures
@IUSD

Mixture design for Rammed earth, CEB. This was done after doing the field testing for the soil available on site and specifying the required additives to reach the best result @Mennah Metwally

Mixture design for Rammed earth, CEB. This was done after doing the field testing for the soil available on site and specifying the required additives to reach the best result
@Mennah Metwally

 

Preparing sample cubes 10*10*10cm with the specified mixture to observe its properties @IUSD

Preparing sample cubes 10*10*10cm with the specified mixture to observe its properties
@IUSD

The team was divided into groups to prepare different samples @IUSD

The team was divided into groups to prepare different samples
@IUSD

Testing the strength of the samples @IUSD

Testing the strength of the samples
@IUSD

The stone foundations for a 4.8*3.6m room designed as an animal shed @IUSD

The stone foundations for a 4.8*3.6m room designed as an animal shed
@IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB @IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB
@IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB @IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB
@IUSD

Formwork installation and vertical alignment. The forms were designed by architect Wael Sabry @Mennah Metwally

Formwork installation and vertical alignment. The forms were designed by architect Wael Sabry
@Mennah Metwally

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers @IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers
@IUSD

Preparing the soil mixture for rammed earth and CEB @IUSD

Preparing the soil mixture for rammed earth and CEB
@IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thank to @Hand over for sharing their rammers @IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers
@IUSD

Removing the formwork @IUSD

Removing the formwork
@IUSD

Removing the formwork @IUSD

Removing the formwork
@IUSD

The combined techniques of CEB and rammed earth wall @IUSD

The combined techniques of CEB and rammed earth wall
@IUSD

Wall alignment @IUSD

Wall alignment
@IUSD

Vertical alignment with plumb line @IUSD

Vertical alignment with plumb line
@IUSD

Mixing with oxide colors @IUSD

Mixing with oxide colors
@IUSD

 

Sketches, and task description @Mennah Metwally

Sketches, and task description
@Mennah Metwally

Discussions @IUSD

Discussions
@IUSD

Everybody is working hard! @Basem Mosallam

Everybody is working hard!
@Basem Mosallam

Lunch time @Mennah Metwally

Lunch time
@Mennah Metwally

Group photo @IUSD

Group photo
@IUSD

Receiving WS certificates @IUSD

Receiving WS certificates
@IUSD

Bye Bye! @IUSD

Bye Bye!
@IUSD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building with Earth Workshop


On the 30th of March 2017, the Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design at Ain Shams University (IUSD-Lab Cairo) together with the Egyptian Earth Construction Association (EECA) have organized a three days workshop on Building with Earth. The event was hosted at “Marzouk” farm; a private farm located in Obour City, Cairo; whose owners are interested in organic farming and sustainability, and with human interaction with Earth and mutual learning.

The workshop aimed at providing the participants with a practical Hands-on training focusing on the techniques of building with Rammed Earth and Compressed Earth Blocks. The participants were introduced to a brief theoretical introduction including a historical background on earth buildings around the world, soil analysis, and classification, the production of earth building materials, in addition to soil mixture design and water content.

Throughout the workshop, the participants were able to make field soil analysis and identify different types of soils on site; they were trained to prepare the appropriate mixture for Rammed Earth, CEB, and mortar. Moreover, they were trained on operating the CEB manual press, installing and dismantling the rammed earth formwork, and manual ramming of the walls.

The workshop was prepared and moderated by the two architects Rasha Abodeeb and Mona Farouk, who were able to transfer fundamental knowledge about earth building techniques to the participants and encourage them to get involved in practical application on site. The group of different aged participants; including children, young people, and adults, was highly enthusiastic and cooperative, with a lot of passion for learning and practicing with their hands. This effort was supported by the following highly dedicated individuals: Mennah Metwally, Basem Mosallam, Mohamed Elfiky, Shadwa Negm, Aya Mosaad, Mennatullah Essam, Saeed El-Gendy, Eng. Abdelsalam Abodeeb, Eng. Mahmoud Qandeel, Ali El-Mahdy, Moatasem Hany, Mahmoud Yousef (mason), Morsy, Haggag & Eng. Ahmed Marzouk.

 

Morning stretching @Basem Mosallam

Morning stretching
@Basem Mosallam

Theoretical introduction to "Building with Earth" @Mennah Metwally

Theoretical introduction to “Building with Earth”
@Mennah Metwally

 

Different types of soils prepared for field testing @IUSD

Different types of soils prepared for field testing
@IUSD

Field testing. Sedimentation test for different types of soils @Mennah Metwally

Field testing. Sedimentation test for different types of soils
@Mennah Metwally

 

Field testing. Porosity test @IUSD

Field testing. Porosity test
@IUSD

CEB machine, developed by IUSD lab Cairo @IUSD

CEB machine, developed by IUSD lab Cairo
@IUSD

 

Training on using the CEB machine @IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine
@IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine @IUSD

Training on using the CEB machine
@IUSD

 

Compressed Earth Blocks, previously cured @IUSD

Compressed Earth Blocks, previously cured
@IUSD

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures @Basem Mosallam

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures
@Basem Mosallam

 

Explaining the design, site preparations and the construction procedures @IUSD

Explaining the design, site preparations, and the construction procedures
@IUSD

Mixture design for Rammed earth, CEB. This was done after doing the field testing for the soil available on site and specifying the required additives to reach the best result @Mennah Metwally

Mixture design for Rammed earth, CEB. This was done after doing the field testing for the soil available on site and specifying the required additives to reach the best result
@Mennah Metwally

 

Preparing sample cubes 10*10*10cm with the specified mixture to observe its properties @IUSD

Preparing sample cubes 10*10*10cm with the specified mixture to observe its properties
@IUSD

The team was divided into groups to prepare different samples @IUSD

The team was divided into groups to prepare different samples
@IUSD

Testing the strength of the samples @IUSD

Testing the strength of the samples
@IUSD

The stone foundations for a 4.8*3.6m room designed as an animal shed @IUSD

The stone foundations for a 4.8*3.6m room designed as an animal shed
@IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB @IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB
@IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB @IUSD

Building the room corners with previously cured CEB
@IUSD

Formwork installation and vertical alignment. The forms were designed by architect Wael Sabry @Mennah Metwally

Formwork installation and vertical alignment. The forms were designed by architect Wael Sabry
@Mennah Metwally

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers @IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers
@IUSD

Preparing the soil mixture for rammed earth and CEB @IUSD

Preparing the soil mixture for rammed earth and CEB
@IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thank to @Hand over for sharing their rammers @IUSD

Ramming the walls. Thanks to @Hand over for sharing their rammers
@IUSD

Removing the formwork @IUSD

Removing the formwork
@IUSD

Removing the formwork @IUSD

Removing the formwork
@IUSD

The combined techniques of CEB and rammed earth wall @IUSD

The combined techniques of CEB and rammed earth wall
@IUSD

Wall alignment @IUSD

Wall alignment
@IUSD

Vertical alignment with plumb line @IUSD

Vertical alignment with plumb line
@IUSD

Mixing with oxide colors @IUSD

Mixing with oxide colors
@IUSD

 

Sketches, and task description @Mennah Metwally

Sketches, and task description
@Mennah Metwally

Discussions @IUSD

Discussions
@IUSD

Everybody is working hard! @Basem Mosallam

Everybody is working hard!
@Basem Mosallam

Lunch time @Mennah Metwally

Lunch time
@Mennah Metwally

Group photo @IUSD

Group photo
@IUSD

Receiving WS certificates @IUSD

Receiving WS certificates
@IUSD

Bye Bye! @IUSD

Bye Bye!
@IUSD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © IUSD 2023 - Ain Shams University