Putting alternative construction study into practice
At the University of Arizona in Tucson, Mary Hardin has established a sort of desert Southwest counterpart to Mockbee's famed Rural Studio, blending architecture education and practice into a practical laboratory of experimentation and discovery.
Ms. Hardin's academic and professional activities involve community outreach and the design of affordable housing. She leads students in the exploration of alternative construction methods - such as rammed earth, paper bale and straw bale - and is presently researching the strength and other qualities of rammed earth in partnership with UA Civil Engineering faculty. She has written and published a number of papers about design/build studios and the projects done with her students.
Professor Harden has also designed a beautiful modern rammed earth home with Richard Eribes, Dean of the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture at UA, which we spotted over at Earth Architecture.
Link: University of Arizona D+B
Link: Mary Hardin
Article: AridLands - Rammed earth constructions
Book: Stylus Publishing - From the Studio to the Streets
Related: Design Matters: Best Practices in Affordable Housing
GILA RIVER RESERVATION HOUSING - SACATON, ARIZONA
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION TEAM LEAD BY MARY HARDIN
Representatives of the Gila District 6 Housing Committee requested assistance with learning building methods that suit their cultural preferences, yet result in structures with low initial construction costs and low lifelong operating costs. The School of Architecture assembled a team of faculty and students who provided design and production services, hands-on demonstration of construction techniques, and actual construction of a single-family, rammed earth dwelling on the Gila Reservation.
ELSER HOUSE - APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA
DESIGN: RICHARD ERIBES, MARY HARDIN
A residence designed in proivate practice. "During the scorching midday and afternoon heat, the generous roof shades the house and creates places of respite in the courts and patios. When the monsoons come, rain gathers on the roof and plunges off above the patio in a single stream, to be captured in a stone basin below. Made of earth, water, and light, this house participates in the full drama of desert life."
RINCON VISTA CLASSROOM FACILITY - TUCSON, ARIZONA
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
An environmentally conscious, low cost classroom facility for the University’s Athletics and Recreation Department. Students and faculty spent four semesters designing, drawing, and constructing the rammed earth classroom building.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RAMMED EARTH RESIDENCE - TUCSON, ARIZONA
DESIGN: CHUCK MEYER, CAPSTONE STUDENT
Built over two semesters by a 5th year design studio and a Construction Workshop class.
