Earth has conquered the field of contemporary architecture and the hundreds of buildings of exceptional aesthetic and technical quality emerging all over the world are capturing the interest of the media and the profession. From housing, public facilities and mixed-use buildings, to interior and landscape design, the 40 projects described in this book were selected from among the 357 submissions received for the TERRA Award, the first Global Prize for Contemporary Earthen Architecture. Built with adobe, cob, compressed earth block, rammed earth or wattle and daub, these inspiring examples from six continents encourage the rediscovery of an abundant and cost-effective material, whose transformation requires minimal energy.

A major contribution to the social-ecological transition!
 

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Author

Dominique Gauzin-Müller has published numerous books on sustainable architecture and urban planning. Honorary professor of the UNESCO-CRAterre Chair and coordinator of the TERRA Award, she is the curator of the traveling exhibition associated with this book.

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The TERRA Award was initiated by the National School of Architecture of Grenoble, CRAterre and the center for research and experimentation, amàco, under the aegis of the UNESCO Chair “Earthen Architecture, Constructive Cultures and Sustainable Development”.