“Not only are these buildings good for your health,” Geraets explains, “but they are low maintenance, fire resistant, mould resistant, unbelievably durable, stunning to look at and calming to live in. Rammed earth offers everything both people and politicians say they need from housing.”

Author Sally Webster explains that the ancient methodology, blended with modern engineering, finds it difficult to fulfil its healthy, light footprint potential here in Aotearoa because the built landscape is “dominated by a trio of big timber, big insulation and big HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).” Webster’s research suggests that this influence permeates building legislation and hinders rammed earth’s ability to do more good: “Rammed earth doesn’t require much timber, insulation and, in many cases, no ventilation system at all.”

While the book fundamentally follows the “life, hopes and hands-on practice” of designer-builder Geraets, it also features contributions from rammed earth associates, engineers and a host of others within the building industry, as well a number of people who either own or have owned a rammed earth home.

Additionally, much of the 154-page, soft-cover book shares Geraets’ Terra Firma Earth Building Company’s intellectual property, “in the hope that more builders will consider putting down their hammer and picking up a rammer instead,” says Webster.

It was a desire to see more people make the shift to building with rammed earth that inspired Geraets to publish and fund the book, saying he recalls how influenced he was by reading a simple brochure on rammed earth 35 years ago.

“I still remember that first moment when, standing on a building site, I was handed a brochure about rammed earth,” Geraets says. “It was life changing because I knew almost instantly this was how we could improve people’s health, drastically reduce the financial pressure in maintaining a home and support an embattled environment at the same time.”

“The book’s nine chapters cover the science of thermal mass through to how capitalism has negatively influenced individuals’ and community’s ability for self-determination,” says Webster. “As I researched and interviewed people, I saw that rammed earth was an incredible method of building that lasted pretty much longer than anything else. It clearly required little maintenance and, in most cases, didn’t need insulation in the walls or floor because of this magical thing called thermal mass.”

Webster says she has attempted to explain scientific and technical matters in plain English: “I’m interested in helping people understand a socially and environmentally vital subject through storytelling. This is a book for everyone and while it’s about building with the wonderful stuff at our feet, it’s also about people and how they tackle the struggles and triumphs of building for impact in Aotearoa.”

The book is currently being distributed via the Terra Firma website, with plans to soon be available at organised public talks, libraries and selected bookshops in Auckland and the Waikato.

*ArchitectureNow has one copy to giveaway*. Make sure you are subscribed to the ArchitectureNow newsletter and see the Instagram post @architecture.nz Wednesday 13 November for entry details. Entries close Monday 18 of November 2024. The competition is available to New Zealand residents only.