[d+b] design+research+build at the University of Arizona

• Rincon Vista
  classroom support
  building
  Rincon Vista classroom facility is a rammed earth and insulated concrete block structure designed and built by Architecture students at The University of Arizona, 1996-1999. It serves as a classroom, office, and restrooms facility for the UA Department of Campus Recreation.
• Paper Bale
  field support
  building
  The UA Paper Bale field support facility is an experimental Architecture students at The University of Arizona, 1998-1999. It is a load bearing structure of shredded, recycled paper and was built entirely of salvaged materials. It now serves as a storage building for the UA Ag College.
• Gila River
  Reservation
  residence
  The Gila River residence is a rammed earth house for a Gila Indian family designed and built by Architecture students at The University of Arizona, 1998-2000. This project was supported by a UA/Community Partnership grant funded by the Kellogg Foundation.
• HFHT
  Rammed Earth
  residence
  The Habitat for Humanity Tucson rammed earth residence was designed by an Architect student at The University of Arizona, and will be built by a 5th year design studio in the fall semester, 2001. Students drew the construction documents and built test blocks and walls to regine the earth/cement mix.
• HFHT
  Straw Bale
  residence
  The Habitat for Humanity Tucson straw bale residence was designed by Architecture students at The University of Arizona, and will be built in the spring semester, 2002.
• Balboa Heights
  community center
  Balboa Heights Community Center is a concrete block structure designed and built by Architecture students at The University of Arizona. Student/community interaction included design meetings, presentations, and creation of a ceramic tile mural for the front of the center.
• HFHT
  Nice House
  The Nice House is a light gage steel frame dwelling designed by University of Arizona student Peter McBride under the supervision of Professor Corky Poster. His design objectives were to create an affordable dwelling of approximately 1200 square feet that optimized environmental, spatial and programmatic considerations.
• DDBC
  Residence 1
  This design, by professors Mary Hardin and John Folan, was drawn and constructed by students of the School of Architecture at The University of Arizona and serves as an energy-conscious prototype for the long, narrow lots with predominantly east-west solar exposure so commonly found in Tucson.
• DDBC
  Residence 2
  In May, 2006, DDBC began the design process for two residences to be built in Barrio San Antonio during 2007-2008. These residences will be energy and water efficient homes, built with innovative construction techniques and monitored for energy and water use for one year after occupation.
• DDBC
  Residence 3
  In May, 2006, DDBC began the design process for two residences to be built in Barrio San Antonio during 2007-2008. These residences will be energy and water efficient homes, built with innovative construction techniques and monitored for energy and water use for one year after occupation.

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Professor Mary Hardin Rammed Earth/Compressed Earth Workshop

A laboratory course focusing on materials, craftsmanship, tools, safety, tectonic theories, programmatic and functional requirements of designing, detailing and constructing full scale furniture, buildings, or building components.

This section is a hands-on research and experimentation session that will construct a series of full-scale mock-ups of rammed earth and compressed earth blocks to determine aesthetic and structural variables. The research will be incorporated into the construction of a rammed earth or compressed earth residence by a subsequent class.

• Full Syllabus (PDF)
• Project List (PDF)