Thin Shell Structure From Earth Material

This research extends earth architecture beyond conventional bearing walls by demonstrating that fabric-reinforced earth can form structurally viable thin shells. Testing three fabric flexibility types across multiple geometric configurations revealed that Type 1 fabric (low flexibility) with adhesive coating achieved optimal structural stability, while coconut coir reinforcement reduced shrinkage cracking by approximately 60%. The project successfully adapted Les Grands Ateliers' experimental methodology to create pentagonal, heptagonal, and tunnel vault configurations using catenary-based form-finding.
Inspired by Francis Kéré's material optimization strategies in Burkina Faso and Zaha Hadid's fabric formwork experiments, the project establishes protocols for compression-shell earth structures that bypass traditional thickness limitations. Critical finding: Earth-only mixtures exhibited excessive shrinkage and cracking, while earth + coconut coir combinations maintained structural integrity through the fiber reinforcement's mechanical interlocking.