Evening star., 1929-07-28
ADOBE BUILDING
REVIVAL PUSHED
Scientists: Skill Is Turned
to Experiments With
Mud Houses.

Nv Consolidated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 27.-Schol-
arly research and scientific establish
nent of standards are helping the re-
vival of the ancient art Of adobe build
ing in California. Early structures built
Of mud. now tourist attractions. ante
dated the log cabins of gold-rush days,
the frame buildings OF the roaring '9os
end present-day skyscrapers Of steel
and concrete.
bulletin just completed by Prof.
J. D. Long of the engineering division
of the University Of California College
OF Agriculture has as frontispiece a
photograph of the famous Mission Do
lores, erected IN San Francisco in 1882.
But the widespread use Of soil as build
ing material. he points out, dates back
to the biblical Tower Of Babel, the Pyra-
n1ids of Egypt, the Roman period OF
British history and to antiquity in the
Americas.
Art Value Is Explored.
The present revival, it is learned from
Prof Longs manuscript, Is based upon
the art value of adobe construction. its
comfort giving qualities in extreme tenn
peratureS and the demand from rural
sections for a building material which
Is cheap and lends itself to personal
construction.
When adobe construction is mention
ed one Is likely to think of weather.
DESTROYED remains of early structures
or of tumble down Shacks of Mexican
laborers, but photographs OF buildings,
etc, the last few years show most at
tractive bungalows and beautiful and
homelike ranch houses, some OF two
story construction.
1FTNl. I&n
Prof. Long, that when properly built
to meet our modern requirements, earth
structures can be relatively comfort
able. durable and healthful shelters"
Five Methods Of Construction.
He lists five methods of construction
and recommends three for present-day
use. These are poured adobe" SIM
liar to monolithic concrete; adobe
blocks of dried mud used as bricks or
concrete blocks, and "rammed earth,
a method in which moist earth rather
than mud is tamped into forms.
This laSt-named method is arousins
considerable interest at present, be-
cause it lends itself to the use OF mod
next week the construction OF
rammed-earth residence, using pneu-
matte tamping equipment. This will be
the second construction OF its KIND IN
the United States. and upon its sue
cess there may grow up a new type OF
construction contracting business.
Collegiate research has disclosed that
decomposition of earthen buildings In
the past has been largely due to de-
fectS which can now be avoided by
the careful builder. Prof Long, In tell
ing how to build with adobe, stresses
particularly the Importance OF solid
concrete foundation, an exterior
weather protecting coat, good roof,
reinforcing features and study OF the
soil to be used. Giving careful at
tention 20 such details. one can dig
cellar of only moderate size and use
the ground thus removed to make the
walls of his new home.
Unalterable When Built.
But the professor suggests that the
beginner, unfamiliar with construction
PRINCIPLES. should experiment first with
a smaller building, for a mud house,
once built. is Just about unalterable.
One gathers that one should begin, say
with dog kennel. then advance to
hen house, and then, with his technique
perfected, he would be ready to draw
his plans and lay the foundation for
his bungalow.
THE advantages of adobe" the pro-
fessor points out "are that it is a
native material of adequate strength
and durability for residences and other
small structures and a material gen.
orally economical to use, available for
attractive, comfortable, flre-resistant,
dry. soundproof and thermal insulated
structures"
Copyright, 1920