FACADE EXPLORATION

The architectural approach of the thesis the strategic use of appropriate materials and technology in response to the regional attributes of the site. From the examples of the Plastic bottled walls in Kaduna state, Nigeria and the Clay pot casting in Gando, Burkina Faso, I  decided to make a prototype for a wall which makes use of the plastic bottles to create a solid external partition (filled with sand), allow passage of light (not filled) and air (sliced open at ends) and screen from the sandy winds. 

Construction procedure of sand-filled plastic bottle walls

 The materials used were sand (dry cat litter clay), water, empty plastic bottles (size depends on thickness of wall), funnel (folded sheet of paper), basin or board, mixing bowl and a sharp edge to slice bottles for the open ended sides.
This is the first exploration, however, the observation was that as the moist clay dries off, cracks appear due to the absorption of water. The challenge with regards to the explorations would be to figure out ways in which the cracks could be mitigated and completely avoided. Another challenge would be, the approach to the issue of heavy rainfall bearing in mind that this type of wall construction is an earth construction, therefore, there are high tendencies of washing-offs and settling.

Visual representation of plastic bottle wall idea