Nowadays, humans have been successful in developing advanced technology that enables them to acquire sustainable and well-built buildings and places. In the construction sector, loam is one of the significant examples of traditional tools that have continued to facilitate constructors until today. Studies (Hegger, Fuchs, Auch-Schwelk, pp. 44, 2006) have indicated that more than one billion people are benefiting from houses made of loam that is merely a combination of sand, silt, and clay, and has become a notion representing building material. A major argument against loam construction is its non-reliability as many experts argue that loam houses are usually non-resistant, simple, and conservative as compared with innovative and modern forms of building material.
However, during the last few years, efforts of environmental scientists and ecologists have inclined builders towards this traditional technology, and it is anticipation that loam construction will soon acquire its significant in the construction sector in the coming years. Besides these arguments, analysis of loam has indicated that some of its characteristics are also responsible for its reduced significance in the industrial sector, as well as non-adaptability in capitalist societies. Furthermore, non-resistance with water is another significant factor that has resulted in its less significance and demand in the industrial sector, as well as in the construction market, one of the reasons that limit its utilization on only inner walls of houses, as rainfall can easily deteriorate loam construction
Since centuries, humans have continued to benefit from different natural resources for its varying purposes. In specific, construction and building remained one of the ancient purposes of human societies for which, humans depended on earth soil to construct their houses, offices, temples, etc, and they have continued this practice until today. However, now, humans have been successful in developing advanced technology that enables them to acquire sustainable and well-built buildings and places (Kennedy, pp. 55, 2004). In the construction sector, loam is one of the significant examples of traditional tools that have continued to facilitate constructors until today. Studies have indicated that more than one billion people are benefiting from houses made of loam that is merely a combination of sand, silt, and clay, and has become a notion representing building material.
Although loam has continued to benefit construction purposes of the humans since ancient and medieval times to until now, however, observation has indicated that it has been confronting a number of challenges in its acceptance in the building sector that is one of the factors of its non-industrialization status (Fernandez, pp. 257-259, 2006). A major argument against loam construction is its non-reliability as many experts argue that loam houses are usually non-resistant, simple, and conservative as compared with innovative and modern forms of building material. Due to such arguments, the industrial society has observed radical reduction in its significance and demand.
Supply and demand is the major notion of capitalist societies. Due to such arguments and criticism about loam construction in the industrial sector and builders, loam construction has not been able to acquire its importance and appropriate status in the capitalist societies that work for the profit, and focus on demand of the consumers that has reduced significantly in the last five decades. However, during the last few years, efforts of environmental scientists and ecologists have inclined builders towards this traditional technology, and it is anticipation that loam construction will soon acquire its significant in the construction sector in the coming years.
Another major cause of non-existence of loam construction in the industrial sector is absence of industrial building systems compatible for it that has resulted in limited range of suppliers of loam that are usually small and medium enterprises, and thus, within few years, loam has now become a product of small business sector rather than industrial sector. However, some of the business leaders involved in the supply of building blocks have indicated that they will soon be putting efforts to develop a specific industrial building system that will enable production of sustainable and resistant loam for construction purposes (Minke, pp. 13-15, 2006). Thus, this will soon transform loam construction from a notion of small enterprises to the industrial sector, as well as, that may make it compatible in the capitalist societies as well.
Besides these arguments, analysis of loam has indicated that some of its characteristics are also responsible for its reduced significance in the industrial sector, as well as non-adaptability in capitalist societies. For instance, experts (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) have pointed out that one cannot consider it a standard material for building purposes due to significant differences in its composition of salt, clay, and silt depending on site to site. Such differences require specific calculation for mixture that makes it a less-demanding material as compared with other building materials that do not present such complications.
Moreover, another characteristic of loam makes it a less-desirable building material that is about its property of shrinkage that occurs after drying of loam and that causes cracks on its surfaces that makes it an inappropriate building material (Minke, pp. 13-17, 2006). Although percent of cracks is very less, such as three percent to twelve percent, however, still it is high as compared with other building materials. In response, experts are putting efforts to reduce and eliminate the percent of shrinkage in loam material that may make it compatible within the capitalist societies.
Furthermore, non-resistance with water is another significant factor that has resulted in its less significance and demand in the industrial sector, as well as in the construction market, one of the reasons that limit its utilization on only inner walls of houses, as rainfall can easily deteriorate loam construction (Minke, pp. 13-15, 2006). In other words, loam constructions usually require shelters and roofs for their protection, another disadvantage of loam material that has reduced its adaptability in building and construction sector around the globe. However, a number of advocates (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) of loam construction argue that besides disadvantages, loam has a number of advantages that are not present in other building materials, such as characteristic of balancing air humidity, capability of storing heat, and its environmental-friendly that should make it a very demanding building material across the globe.
In this regard, they argue that drawbacks of loam are not the only factors of its incompatibility in the capitalist societies however, the prejudiced behavior of huge companies against the loam construction is the major factor that has resulted in failure of loam in the capitalist societies. Analysis (Minke, pp. 13-16, 2006) has indicated that various corporations have already invested millions of dollars in other modern alternatives, and success of loam will result in their huge losses that have inclined such companies to create a lobby against the advocates of loam construction.
In this regard, experts (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) are estimating that in few years, companies will put efforts to benefit from this conventional and ancient form of building material that is environmental-friendly and plays a significant role in the reduction of environmental pollution. However, at the same time, it will be very imperative that authorities of the capitalist societies may invest in the loam building material that is a symbol of earth architecture and can be very valuable in this era of global environmental crisis, as well as economic crisis. Another imperative characteristic of loam is its capability of retaining nutrients that makes it an ideal product for the cultivation of crops due to its fertility (Rex Bookstore, pp. 177, 2004). In brief, governments will have to play a dominating role in promoting the usage of loam for construction purposes, and efforts on national and international level may allow loam to become a major component of industrialized world in coming years, as well as a part of the capitalist societies as well.
Conclusively, the paper has discussed some of the significant aspects of loam construction and the factors that resulted in its non-adaptability in capitalist societies, as well as its non-industrialization. The paper has identified and analyzed different studies related to the topic however, it is anticipation that future researches in this regard will allow a more comprehensive and updated understanding of the impact. It is an expectation that the paper will be beneficial for students, teachers, and professionals in better understanding of the topic.
However, during the last few years, efforts of environmental scientists and ecologists have inclined builders towards this traditional technology, and it is anticipation that loam construction will soon acquire its significant in the construction sector in the coming years. Besides these arguments, analysis of loam has indicated that some of its characteristics are also responsible for its reduced significance in the industrial sector, as well as non-adaptability in capitalist societies. Furthermore, non-resistance with water is another significant factor that has resulted in its less significance and demand in the industrial sector, as well as in the construction market, one of the reasons that limit its utilization on only inner walls of houses, as rainfall can easily deteriorate loam construction
Since centuries, humans have continued to benefit from different natural resources for its varying purposes. In specific, construction and building remained one of the ancient purposes of human societies for which, humans depended on earth soil to construct their houses, offices, temples, etc, and they have continued this practice until today. However, now, humans have been successful in developing advanced technology that enables them to acquire sustainable and well-built buildings and places (Kennedy, pp. 55, 2004). In the construction sector, loam is one of the significant examples of traditional tools that have continued to facilitate constructors until today. Studies have indicated that more than one billion people are benefiting from houses made of loam that is merely a combination of sand, silt, and clay, and has become a notion representing building material.
Although loam has continued to benefit construction purposes of the humans since ancient and medieval times to until now, however, observation has indicated that it has been confronting a number of challenges in its acceptance in the building sector that is one of the factors of its non-industrialization status (Fernandez, pp. 257-259, 2006). A major argument against loam construction is its non-reliability as many experts argue that loam houses are usually non-resistant, simple, and conservative as compared with innovative and modern forms of building material. Due to such arguments, the industrial society has observed radical reduction in its significance and demand.
Supply and demand is the major notion of capitalist societies. Due to such arguments and criticism about loam construction in the industrial sector and builders, loam construction has not been able to acquire its importance and appropriate status in the capitalist societies that work for the profit, and focus on demand of the consumers that has reduced significantly in the last five decades. However, during the last few years, efforts of environmental scientists and ecologists have inclined builders towards this traditional technology, and it is anticipation that loam construction will soon acquire its significant in the construction sector in the coming years.
Another major cause of non-existence of loam construction in the industrial sector is absence of industrial building systems compatible for it that has resulted in limited range of suppliers of loam that are usually small and medium enterprises, and thus, within few years, loam has now become a product of small business sector rather than industrial sector. However, some of the business leaders involved in the supply of building blocks have indicated that they will soon be putting efforts to develop a specific industrial building system that will enable production of sustainable and resistant loam for construction purposes (Minke, pp. 13-15, 2006). Thus, this will soon transform loam construction from a notion of small enterprises to the industrial sector, as well as, that may make it compatible in the capitalist societies as well.
Besides these arguments, analysis of loam has indicated that some of its characteristics are also responsible for its reduced significance in the industrial sector, as well as non-adaptability in capitalist societies. For instance, experts (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) have pointed out that one cannot consider it a standard material for building purposes due to significant differences in its composition of salt, clay, and silt depending on site to site. Such differences require specific calculation for mixture that makes it a less-demanding material as compared with other building materials that do not present such complications.
Moreover, another characteristic of loam makes it a less-desirable building material that is about its property of shrinkage that occurs after drying of loam and that causes cracks on its surfaces that makes it an inappropriate building material (Minke, pp. 13-17, 2006). Although percent of cracks is very less, such as three percent to twelve percent, however, still it is high as compared with other building materials. In response, experts are putting efforts to reduce and eliminate the percent of shrinkage in loam material that may make it compatible within the capitalist societies.
Furthermore, non-resistance with water is another significant factor that has resulted in its less significance and demand in the industrial sector, as well as in the construction market, one of the reasons that limit its utilization on only inner walls of houses, as rainfall can easily deteriorate loam construction (Minke, pp. 13-15, 2006). In other words, loam constructions usually require shelters and roofs for their protection, another disadvantage of loam material that has reduced its adaptability in building and construction sector around the globe. However, a number of advocates (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) of loam construction argue that besides disadvantages, loam has a number of advantages that are not present in other building materials, such as characteristic of balancing air humidity, capability of storing heat, and its environmental-friendly that should make it a very demanding building material across the globe.
In this regard, they argue that drawbacks of loam are not the only factors of its incompatibility in the capitalist societies however, the prejudiced behavior of huge companies against the loam construction is the major factor that has resulted in failure of loam in the capitalist societies. Analysis (Minke, pp. 13-16, 2006) has indicated that various corporations have already invested millions of dollars in other modern alternatives, and success of loam will result in their huge losses that have inclined such companies to create a lobby against the advocates of loam construction.
In this regard, experts (Steemers Yannas, pp. 239-240, 2000) are estimating that in few years, companies will put efforts to benefit from this conventional and ancient form of building material that is environmental-friendly and plays a significant role in the reduction of environmental pollution. However, at the same time, it will be very imperative that authorities of the capitalist societies may invest in the loam building material that is a symbol of earth architecture and can be very valuable in this era of global environmental crisis, as well as economic crisis. Another imperative characteristic of loam is its capability of retaining nutrients that makes it an ideal product for the cultivation of crops due to its fertility (Rex Bookstore, pp. 177, 2004). In brief, governments will have to play a dominating role in promoting the usage of loam for construction purposes, and efforts on national and international level may allow loam to become a major component of industrialized world in coming years, as well as a part of the capitalist societies as well.
Conclusively, the paper has discussed some of the significant aspects of loam construction and the factors that resulted in its non-adaptability in capitalist societies, as well as its non-industrialization. The paper has identified and analyzed different studies related to the topic however, it is anticipation that future researches in this regard will allow a more comprehensive and updated understanding of the impact. It is an expectation that the paper will be beneficial for students, teachers, and professionals in better understanding of the topic.
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