The Aqua Show Room
Natural Building
The Project
Where:
Freeport, Trinidad
When:
Aug-Sep 2024
Methods:
Wattle and Daub / Cob, Lime Plastering, Bottle Walls, Relief Work
Earth Building can be entire structures or additions made to conventional buildings; this space was created blending a mix of both. The walls were made using red clay bricks and the relief walls are earthen. The structure is plastered in lime plaster and wash finish.
Meet The Team
Project Details
We created a display room for tropical fishes that incorporates natural building techniques for Tropical Fish Trinidad. Students conducted this project alongside us as part of our 2024 Earth Building Immersion.
Methods Used
The walls of the room were divided into two levels, that demonstrated distinct teqhniques. For the first 3/4 length of the walls, students applied a lime-sand plaster over coventional red clay brick wall to adapt to high mositure in the atmosphere while maintaining a breathable, healthy and natural final finish. We mixed natural blue pigment on-site to create an oceanic and watery blue finish, complete with a three-dimensional relief wave on the inner and outer walls.
The upper walls used mixed techniques of cob and awattle and daub to build earthen walls. We then created detailed relief scultptures that highlighted tropical marine life - creating a vibrant underwater ambiance. This project demonstrates the potential of earth-building techniques to merge artistry, functionality, and sustainability into one cohesive space.
This project was done at Wa Samaki Ecosystems in Freeport, Trinidad. It's viewable to the public :)
