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New Zealand Project | |||
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We have been involved
in pioneering
the " Light Earth Method" of building construction in New Zealand. After much investigation of traditional approaches to cob and Leichtlehmbau building methods we have endeavored to marry our findings with standard and accepted New Zealand Timber Frame Construction. The initial result was a 'ladder stud' system where the width of the ladder, across the rungs dictates the thickness of the walls. |
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| Typically
these 'ladder studs' are placed at
1.2 meters ( 48") centers and provide adequate fixing for the light form-work used. Later we produced structures with standard 4"x2" framed walls with studs at 600 mm (24") centers which were totally encapsulated in 300 mm (12") thick LEM walls. We have used Heart Macrocarpa timber because it is readily available, cost effective, untreated and durable. Click to enlarge> |
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The LEM mix has a much higher proportion of straw or wood chips to clay. This makes the job of getting all the surface of the straw coated more difficult. . .Traditionally this was accomplished by tossing and dragging the straw over itself with pitch forks, until thoroughly coated. Two or three people circle rhythmically, often singing a shanty! | |||
| Here is Ian Chapman using our own,
home-grown 'auto pitchfork' machine.
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If wood chips are used, a standard cement mixer works well. The clay is sourced from the site and is reduced to a slurry in a large mixing machine similar to a giant 'kitchen blender' |
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