It has been a long time since I posted a would you live story!  This one is great.  As the world move more and more to alternative and sustainable means of construction things that were laughed at as hippie ideas just 30-40 years ago are proving to be beautiful and doable alternatives. 

Enter the rammed earth building. 

Linda Kiisk, associate director of facilities planning at the University of Wyoming describes it this way: "Rammed earth basically works like the formwork of pouring a concrete wall. But instead of concrete, you are using soil from the site. The material is tamped down. This can be done with sledge hammers by hand or with a pneumatic device. Then you pull the forms off, and you have a stable wall.

Left Photo:Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects.

Follow this link to read the full article over at New West Magazine. 

 This is definately a form of construction I could see myself living in.  It is beautiful, well insulated and has a lot of potential.  I had a very good friend who lived in a 100 year old adobe home that looked good as new.  Naysayers I know will talk of Radon, well don't build it air tight and make sure you ventialte it.  I think your problem won't be any bigger than living in a modern well sealed home. 

Photo: Red Hill Residence

Story via New West and TreeHugger