Question

How did modern construction learn from ancient constructions, building materials and technologies? How could the oldest building materials be applied to today’s construction? Or could it be modified to fit our needs?

Answer 1

MODERN CONSTRUCTION AND ANCIENT CONSTRUCTION

When technology and construction have progressed rapidly in recent years, the remnants of colossal ancient monuments remind us that construction techniques from as long as hundreds of years ago had enormous merit as well. Many of the innovations of antiquity serve as foundations of modern construction,for example the Roman invention of concrete serving . Other essential ancient construction techniques, such as the arch and the dome, are now often considered stylistic flourishes, with designs like the Met Opera House reinterpreting classical typologies in a modern context. Yet perhaps the most relevant reinterpretations of ancient construction today are those that do so in the interest of sustainability, renouncing high-energy modern construction methods in favor of older, more natural techniques.

These reinterpretations have taken many different forms, ranging from the revived use of ancient materials to renewing ancient construction techniques. For example, a new type of rammed earth construction reimagines ancient sustainability from a material standpoint, transforming traditional rammed earth into the stronger cement-stabilized rammed earth . Originally consisting of soil, water, and a natural stabilizer (animal urine, animal blood, plant fibers, or bitumen), rammed earth construction has existed for centuries, having been used in monumental ancient projects ranging from the Great Wall of China to Alhambra. However, CSRE mixes soil, water, and cement instead, improving the material’s strength by orders of magnitude. Yet the main ingredient still being local soil, CSRE thus crucially reduces the negative effects of transporting other materials. CSRE is also cheaper than many other more common building materials, making it a sustainable option for affordable housing as well. The Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology has explored using CSRE to help rural communities to build new houses, while the Western Australian Department of Housing has investigated using CSRE in remote Indigenous communities.