Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture

Domes

In order to construct a structurally optimised
dome without formwork, the BRL devel-
oped a rotational guide that is fixed to a
vertical mast. An angle is fixed at the end of
the rotating arm, against which the mason
lays the adobe or soil block, allowing block
to be positioned with precision. Illustrations
15.33to 15.36show the application of this
construction technique for an earthquake-
resistant dome with an 8.8 m free span that
is 5.5 m in height, built in La Paz, Bolivia, in

2000. The dome is stabilised by two rein-
      forced concrete ring beams, one at the bot-
      tom of the dome, another at the top of the
      foundation. In order to provide good sound
      distribution within the dome, the adobes

were made by hand in a special mould with

rounded edges. The acoustic behaviour of

the dome was further refined by deepening

the vertical joints in order to achieve some

sound absorption and by a slight cantilever-

ing position, which prevents the sound from

being focused towards the centre of the

dome.

144 Earthquake-resistant building

15.33 to 15.34Rotational

guide

15.35 to 15.36Finished

dome

15. 37Wrongly designed

plinth with eccentric

thrust line, which col-

lapses easily when hit by

seismic shocks

15.38Earthquake-

resistant design for a low-

cost housing project in

Gujarat, India

15.39 to 15.40Dange-

rous shapes of vaults,

Bam, Iran

15. 41Vault which with-

stood earthquake at Bam,

Iran, Dec. 2003

15.34 15.33

15.35

15.36