Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture

The residence is situated at the edge of

Bolivia’s capital at a height of 3700 m

above sea level. It is built of handmade

adobes and consists of three crossing vaults.

The vaults have thicknesses of 30 cm and

give a positive time lag for sun radiation.

This means that solar radiation enters the

rooms in the evening and at night when

outdoor temperatures are low. The vaults

are plastered with an earth plaster, which

is covered by an elastic acrylic paint to

provide shelter against rain.

160 Built examples

Residence, La Paz, Bolivia

Architect: Raul Sandoval, La Paz, Bolivia

Completion: 1999

Area: 84 m^2

Bedroom

Kitchen Dining room

Living room Bedroom

Bathroom

Entrance