In Volume 62 of enki (you can pick up a copy here if you haven’t already), we explore the accelerating momentum of the rammed earth movement with a look at the latest venture from Vosjes Architecture.
Now, we delve further into the project and speak to lead architect Stacie Vos to get to grips on the benefits of building with earth.
Sitting somewhere between Toronto and Montreal, Babylon is single-level residence that caters to an active family of four. Keen to ground the project to its locale and environmental context, curating a considered material palette was the starting point for Vosjes Architecture.
“Inspired by the surrounding limestone ledges of Prince Edward County in Ontario, we wanted to use locally sourced, natural materials and be intentional of expressing their purest and imperfect essence.”
With this in mind, rammed earth construction felt like the natural building method of choice for the home – a decision which was firmly solidified once the team took into account its impressive sustainable credentials and insulation benefits (more on that in Stacie’s interview below).
Working with local rammed earth contractor Aerecura Sustainable Builders from concept to completion, all of the exterior and interior load-bearing walls of Babylon have been erected under employment of this ancient technique.
In pursuit of embracing the ‘imperfect’, Vosjes Architecture have left the rammed earth facades untouched both inside and out. As such, the raw surface and its ‘waved’ striations create a textured backdrop for the interior – a proud display of craftsmanship or as Stacie eloquently summarises, “a monument to the marriage of natural materials and skilled human hand.”
Stretching out horizontally across the green site, the family home places the main communal living space at the centre of the plan with flanking wings segregating the master suite and additional bedrooms.
A floating kitchen offers a cosy warmth to the otherwise stark interior, with book matched cabinetry contrasting the greying walls and exposed metal panel roof system that encloses the space. Wall mounted timber panels sourced from local felled ash trees also conceal additional kitchen storage.
Using passive house principles to guide the orientation of the build, Vosjes Architecture define the south facade with a border of glazed floor-to-ceiling lift-and-slide doors. More than just portals of natural light, this transparent line-up also allows for unobstructed access to the outdoors from every part of the plan.
Once outside, the full impact of the locale becomes apparent as the green bush that surrounds seamlessly extends the back garden.
Keen to discover more about the project and building methodology, we sat down with architect Stacie Vos of Vosjes Architecture…
What is rammed earth construction?
“Babylon uses rammed earth construction, an ancient and sustainable method of building, to create a dense, rock-like structure that can sustain centuries of future use and therefore minimise environmental waste. A highly durable technique, the oldest surviving rammed earth structures are 8,000 years old.”
“The walls feature two compacted layers of subsoil with polyiso insulation in the centre. These allow for significant thermal mass to reduce heating and cooling costs by absorbing, storing and slowly releasing heat from the sun. The impenetrable walls are also airtight to provide superior indoor air quality and soothing acoustics.”
How was this construction method utilised in the creation of Babylon?
“Integral to this project was the use of limestone subsoil sourced from a local quarry. Despite many options for colour additives or tints, I chose to maintain the natural-grey subsoil tone. This ensured the striking appearance of this home remained a true expression of the surrounding landscape.”
“All exterior walls (20”, 510mm thickness) and interior loading bearing walls (12”, 305mm thickness) were constructed with rammed earth. This is significantly thicker than standard construction and challenging to run services through because of its permanency. With an efficient layout, I was able to mitigate the floor area lost to wall thickness and decided to use standard construction for all bathroom walls to ensure our plumbing fixtures were located outside of the monolithic, rammed earth walls for ease of construction and future access.”
Why have you left the walls exposed in the design?
“The construction of rammed earth walls is more than a kit of parts, it is a craft that showcases the handiwork and artistry of those that made them. Working with our contractor, Aerecura Sustainable Builders, we determined the colour, size of striations and horizontality in each lift to create a calming backdrop for the lives of our inhabitants.”
“This rammed earth tapestry is expressed on all sides of the walls to provide uniformity from interior to exterior and to maximise the ecological benefits of this natural building material. There is beauty in the integrity of the earthen walls. While technically it was unnecessary to cover them, it was also important to celebrate their functional and aesthetic purposes. “
How did the rammed earth walls inform the rest of the interior palette?
“Throughout the project, I was intentional in selecting construction methods that didn’t require additional finishing after installation. With “no-touch” finishes, we were able to reduce our construction cost and carbon footprint with fewer materials, trades and man hours required during construction. The insulated metal panel roof has a black paint finish, as the ceiling surface and the exposed concrete floors were burnished onsite.”
“The integration of ash wood millwork, wall panels and interior doors was essential to contrast the harder metal and stone elements. Finished with a non-pigmented natural oil, the cabinetry features integral handles developed with our millworker, Victor Coelho of Rabbit Hole Woodworking.”
“The resulting interior spaces are stripped-back, rich in texture and warm in their raw materiality, rooted in the earth.”
Project details:
Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Project Size: 160 sq. m
Architect & Interior Designer: Vosjes Architecture (see more of their work here)
Rammed Earth: Aerecura Sustainable Builders
Contractor: Chris Walcott
Landscape Design: Kate Crothers Design
Millwork: Rabbit Hole Woodworking; Two Degrees North
Photographer: Brooke Stephenson (@foundmythrill)
Discover the full portfolio of work from Vosjes Architecture by clicking here.
For more architecture inspo, head back to enki’s case studies.
