Precedent research into prefabricated rammed-earth panel systems as a renovation strategy for mid-rise social housing.
This research explored rammed earth (pisé) as a structural and thermal-mass material for renovating existing 1980s host buildings, moving beyond its traditional association with new-build, low-rise construction.
Approach
Real-world precedents were studied for prefabricated panel systems and thin applied rammed-earth finishes, alongside circular sourcing strategies for urban excavation earth. Structural load calculations were developed for a hybrid rammed-earth and hempcrete system applied to an existing concrete frame.
Outcome
The research fed into a jury presentation proposing a hybrid construction strategy that retains the existing structural frame while wrapping it in a high-thermal-mass, low-carbon envelope — demonstrating a viable path for biobased materials in dense urban renovation, not just greenfield development.
