Compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) and stone masonry form the walls of The Lion-Roar of Advait. Each block is pressed from soil — much of it excavated on-site during the foundation stage — stabilized with a small amount of lime, rather than fired like a conventional brick. Once pressed, the blocks are covered and weighted down under tarp while curing, protected from rain until they’re strong enough to handle.
The technique draws on decades of earth-building research from the Auroville Earth Institute in Tamil Nadu, a pioneer of CSEB and lime-stabilized construction in India. Both the project’s architect and contractor have their own ties to Auroville — a fitting lineage for the technique to arrive by.
Stone masonry complements CSEB in areas where the design calls for greater mass or aesthetic contrast.
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See the journal entry for the full write-up on molding and curing CSEB blocks, including a video of the press in action.