7 myths regarding use of mud in architecture
Ar. Harshita Srivastava | Architect and Researcher
The secret to living a long sustainable life is living in harmony with nature. The environment has always provided protection and refuge for all living beings including humans, in the form of shelters created with natural materials. Such shelters are often based on the geographical location and result of geological processes and can offer protection from weather conditions, predators, and other factors. These shelters have all the elements necessary for the survival of its owner. Some materials that have been used for years for these shelters are mud, stone, leaves, animal skin, sand, ice, etc…
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| Fig No. 1: Stone Age home, made up of mud and animal bone |
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Fig No. 2: Weaver bird's nest built with dried grasses and mud |
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| Fig No. 3: Termite's mound built with mud |
- Primitive and outdated
One of the most common myths about mud architecture is that it is primitive and outdated. But in reality, construction with mud has evolved with time, and contemporary architects and designers have been using it in innovative designs. With such advanced technologies and design principles nowadays mud structures could have all the luxuries and beauty one desires.
Mud has been an evergreen material in the construction field, being used since the start of mankind. There is no fixed shape and form, that needs to be followed if building with mud, instead, there could be an enormous number of forms, colors, and textures possible with mud. If designed wisely, keeping all the aspects affecting in mind, mud structures could become a gem for the coming future.
- Lack of Durability
Another myth about mud architecture is that they are not durable and can easily be eroded by rain or other weather conditions. Well, when designed properly keeping the weather conditions in mind, mud structures can last for hundreds of years. We have so many mud structures that were built around 500-600 years ago and are still standing with minimal damage such as The Great Wall of China; Kuchesar Fort, Bulandshahar, India; Taos Pueblo, USA; Villa de Leyva, Colombia; Siwa Oasis, Egypt and many more (Bureau,2019).
Fig No.4: The Great Wall of China, China
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| Fig No.5: Kuchesar Fort, India |
- Easily affected by termites and pests
People do believe that mud structures are prone to termite infestations and pest problems. Mud structures often contain organic matter that attracts pests, but I would like to mark “Untreated mud is susceptible to termites and pests”. Proper stabilizers, termite-resistant admixtures, and appropriate design measures can mitigate these issues.
Fig No.6: Admixtures added to the soil
In order to survive termites need a constant supply of water whether it be in the form of moisture or dampness. Therefore if we cut the source of moisture in the mud structure by designing a proper drainage system that keeps dampness away, then the termite issue would decrease on a larger basis. There is a saying that if the hat and boot of a structure is well-designed then it can withstand major forthcoming issues.
- Non-resistant to heavy rainfall
Another myth regarding mud buildings is that they cannot withstand rain. However, with the use of proper admixtures and design measures, mud structures can withstand heavy rainfall and hail storms as well. Design elements such as large roof overhangs, proper drainage, etc can enhance the life of structures.
A great example to support my point can be the “Training cum research center” of an architecture initiative Geeli Mitti, at Uttarakhand which is built completely out of mud naturally found at the site. It receives 1200mm of heavy rainfall along with scattered hail storms for 4 months in a year. Even after such adverse conditions the structure stands unaffected.
- Poor insulation
Another misconception is that mud structures have poor insulation and that they are not suitable for extreme climates. On the contrary, various tests have proved that mud has a good thermal mass property. A properly designed mud building provides efficient insulation, keeping the interiors cool in summer and warm in winter.
In a study performed by the Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST) at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, it was found that the indoor temperature of a cement/concrete house is 7%-10% higher than that of a traditional house in rural West Bengal (Samuel,2023).
Fig No.7: Bhunga house in Kutch, India
As an example, we can see the traditional Bhunga house construction in Kutch. For so many years the localities have been building Bhunga houses using mud, to fight the unbearable heat in summers and cold in winters. Studies have stated that one can feel a temperature drop of 5°-7° during summers inside the Bhunga house.
When we talk about acoustics, the thickness and high density of mud walls have natural barriers that restrict the sound waves from entering inside. Mud can absorb and dampen the sound waves, making the interior peaceful and comfortable. This makes these structures particularly suitable for noisy areas (Marsh,2023).
- Unable to withstand earthquake
Another myth about mud structures is that they cannot withstand earthquakes and are not suitable for seismic zones. Well, with proper design considerations such as the overall form of the structure, the use of reinforcement materials for example: bamboo, straw, and other natural fibers that have good ductility can make the mud building resilient to earthquakes.
Fig No.8: Bamboo is used as
reinforcement for the mud wall
In an article published by New Scientist magazine in 2005, Mr. Rachel Nowak writes about a study performed at the University of Technology in Sydney, led by Mr. Bijan Samali, director of the Centre for Built Infrastructure Research. In the study, it was stated that mud or adobe structures when reinforced with bamboo, become ductile enough to withstand the effects of earthquake. And that in case of a big quake which makes crack inevitable, the structure won’t shatter or crumble - the pieces will be held together, which reduces the risk of loss of life.
- Lack of good aesthetic values
Mud is usually a very ignored material and in general imaginations, we cannot think of a fascinating mud structure. A common myth is that the mud structure looks cheap and ugly. Nevertheless, this does not make the mud structures unappealing. One of the great advantages of mud structures are it being highly customizable. Mud can be molded in any shape and form of any size as we desire. It can be mixed with other natural materials like egg shells, rice husks, straw, etc.. to achieve various textures and finishes. With a proper selection of admixtures, we can create a beautiful luxurious mud house that does not look cheap.
Fig No.9: Natural earth
In an article published by the Mongabay News & Inspiration from Nature’s Frontline in India, 2020, Ms. Nandita Jayaraj, Science journalist and co-founder of The Life of Science writes, “Though over one-third of the world’s population still lives in homes made with mud, somewhere in the mid-20th century, this trend took a sharp decline.” Where most people find it difficult to even imagine living in a mud house, many people around the whole world still live in one.
Some of the good examples of modern mud structures in India are given below:
- Visitor's Centre, Auroville
- Mud Kothi, Alwar by Sketch Design Studio
- Training and Research Centre, by Geeli Mitti
- Mud house, Thiruvananthapuram by Ar. G. Shankar
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| Fig No.10: (a) Top left: Mud House, Thiruvananthapuram; (b) Bottom left: Visitor's Center, Auroville; (c) Right: Mud Kothi, Alwar |
Renowned British-Indian architect Laurie Baker once said “Our walls should breathe”. To do so he usually avoided plastering and painting and instead kept the bricks exposed. This led to almost no use of air-conditioners in summer and the interiors used to be warm in winter in his structures.
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| Fig No.11: The Center of Development Studies, Trivandrum- by Ar. Laurie Baker |
Mud houses have not always gained a good reputation in India. There is a perception that natural materials are cheap and of inferior quality. Though we have many structures built with these materials still standing, most of the mud structures can be seen only in rural areas.
However, after facing adverse climate changes such as the severe heat waves for the last two years and especially after the pandemic, the perception is changing vividly. People are moving towards sustainability, old traditions, and climate-resilience aspects.
It’s not wrong to use modern materials like cement and concrete. But we should not blindly use them, only because they are easily available and most commonly used everywhere around us. In this way, we just end up contributing to the growth of the concrete jungle. And hence, fail in the long run causing harm to the environment.
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| Fig No.12: Mud wall with stone masonry as the base |
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