Rammed earth

Rammed earth is a technique for constructing foundations, floors, and walls using compacted natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, lime, or gravel.^[1] It is an ancient method that has been revived recently as a sustainable building method.

Under its French name of pisé it is also a material for sculptures, usually small and made in molds. It has been especially used in Central Asia and Tibetan art, and sometimes in China.^[2]

Edifices formed of rammed earth are found on every continent except Antarctica, in a range of environments including temperate, wet,^[3] semiarid desert, montane, and tropical regions. The availability of suitable soil and a building design appropriate for local climatic conditions are two factors that make its use favourable.

The French term "pisé de terre" or "terre pisé" was sometimes used in English for architectural uses, especially in the 19th century.