FAIRE 2021: “Earth Esthetic and Performance”

Our “Earth Esthetic and Performance” research project, carried out throughout the year as part of the call for proposals launched by FAIRE 2021, run by the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, has now come to an end. The aim of this experiment was to examine the architectural design and thermal and environmental performance of compressed earth blocks (CEB).

The results of this project, which merit more in-depth and extensive studies in the long term, are very clear as regards the properties offered by CEB, which provide greater hygroregulation, energy, and carbon gains compared with plaster partition walls and concrete.

Some conclusions:

• Compressed Earth Blocks are 3 to 6 times less carbon-intensive and 2.5 to 3 times less energy-intensive to manufacture.
• They also stabilize interior temperature trends, with a differential of 36.68 °F over a hot week, compared with 43.7 °F for plasterboard.
• They provide hygrometric stability, thanks in particular to a water vapor storage/retrieval capacity 1.5 to 2 times greater than that of concrete and plaster partitions.

→ Find the complete study in this booklet

→ In addition, watch the video of the meeting and presentation of the project between our carbon strategies and bio-based materials design engineer Nina Mahe-Rome and Louise Dubois, materials designer at ATELIER AINO, during the FAIRE CLUB in November 2022 here

Congratulations also to Aymeric Anquetin, who headed up the research at Atelier Franck Boutté, with Nina Mahé-Rome, to ATELIER AINO for the design coordination and research, and to amàco for the manufacturing.

With the support of Cycle Terre and Les Grands Ateliers!

→ Find out more about the project here