Attitudes toward earthen architecture: The case of compressed and stabilized earth block architecture in Auroville, India

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the presumed negative attitudes toward earthen architecture as a component of a statistical analysis that attempts to gather information to understand what causes it. A survey was conducted in a city experiment consisting of the revalorization of an earthen-based building technique called compressed and stabilized earth blocks (CSEB). This experiment has been conducted by the Auroville Earth Institute team (AVEI) for over 25 years and seeks to inform individuals of the usefulness of this environmental friendly building material. It proposes CSEB products as an alternative to conventional materials. In this context AVEI promotes dwellings constructed entirely with CSEB. For the primary conclusion, the negative side of the attitudes toward earthen architecture is too complex to grasp and it is explained by the relationship between the different attitudes toward building materials and buildings. Comparisons with attitudes toward fired brick architecture result in indicators that could benefit CSEB revalorization projects. These results lead to research regarding attitudes toward building materials and their wide-ranging uses.