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A sustainability solution closer to home
What are rammed earth walls?
Read time: 5 minutes
Welcome to the weekly AST Briefing.
The second half of 2024 is shaping up to be quite busy, with many travel and hospitality conferences scheduled for Q4. If you know of any events that should be on our radar, kindly share the details with us.
Additionally, we are making plans for 3 AST Forums, which will be held in the latter part of the year. We are delighted to announce that the upcoming AST Forum will be held in Subic Bay, the Philippines. Further details can be found below.
We extend a special thanks to Misha Paul, our contributor in India, for bringing us this week’s Feature Story. The spotlight spotlights how an entrepreneur and hotelier in the Himalayan region of Ladakh is reviving an ancient building method to meet 21st-century resort needs.
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Indigenous Design Leading The Way in Sustainable Innovation
Climate change has become the defining crisis of our time, and the hospitality sector has a significant role to play due to its substantial environmental and social impact.
In this state of climate emergency, it has become imperative for businesses to win this race against time with sustainability, economic growth, and resilience, using solutions with the lowest carbon footprint.
One innovator leading the way in sustainable innovation at 3500m above sea level is Norboo Wangchuk, Managing Director and owner of Ladakh Eco Resort in the Himalayan region of India.
Nestled in the heart of a 100-year-old village, Spurka, Ladakh Eco Resort is a sustainable luxury resort surrounded by one of the world's highest motorable roads, Khardung-La Pass on one side and the mighty Stok Kangri on the other. Spread across 2 acres and surrounded by the vibrant colors of hollyhocks, wild lilies, and liliums, the resort has only 14 cabins, each looking raw and spectacular under the clear blue sky.
But what gives these cabins such rugged beauty?
Photo by: Ladakh Eco Resort
The Ingenuity of Rammed Earth Architecture
The rammed earth building method is an ancient traditional technique for constructing load-bearing walls made out of earth available near a site. The process involves placing loose earth in formwork and compressing it with a rammer to a density ranging from 1,900 kg/m3 to 2,300 kg/m3.
Rammed earth structures have been known to last for centuries. Leh Palace, built over three years in the early 17th century CE when Ladakh was under the rule of King Senge Namgyal, is one of the towering proofs of this form of architecture.
The cabins in Ladakh Eco Resort are made using rammed earth techniques, and one of the core design team members is Magsaysay award-winning engineer, innovator, and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk.
Once a norm, now an anomaly
One hundred years ago, rammed earth houses were the norm because they were the only thing that survived the challenging climatic requirements of the mountain desert.
“Mr. Sonam Wangchuk reintroduced rammed earth architecture in Ladakh with modern technologies, and Ladakh Eco Resort became one of the first resorts in the cold desert of Ladakh to embrace it with his help,” adds Norboo.
Mr. Sonam Wangchuk’s eco-friendly campus, SECMOL, in the lower part of Leh, was inspired by the same philosophy of architecture as well.
“The Ladakh I remember from my childhood had clean water flowing in the streams from which we could drink directly. Over time, with an incredible boom in tourism, the temperature of our land has risen, and because of this, snow caps and glaciers are melting. We want business, of course, but not at the cost of our planet.
When we discovered that earth construction was better for the environment, my father and I decided to use it for our rooms. Ladakh’s topography isn’t like that of low-lying cities. The climate is cold and dry. Cement isn't suitable here.
Older people are more prone to bone-related ailments when walking barefoot on a cement or marble floor. Passive solar heating and rammed earth are the perfect combination for a warm house in Ladakh without spending too much on heating solutions.”
What are the Advantages of Rammed Earth Walls?
Low Maintenance: Rammed earth walls require no plastering or painting, offering a natural finish with beautiful textures and colors. The thick walls also deter rodents and other pests.
Health Benefits: Rammed earth walls eliminate the need for toxic paints, creating a healthier indoor environment. These walls naturally counteract humidity and maintain stable temperatures, providing warm, dry, and energy-efficient living spaces.
Sustainability: Utilizing on-site earth reduces energy spent on transporting materials, minimizes waste, and integrates well with other natural materials like locally sourced stone and wood.
Energy Efficiency: The thermal mass of the walls maintains stable temperatures throughout the seasons, reducing the need for electricity-powered heating and cooling systems.
"Though labor-intensive and time-consuming, these methods are healthy, energy-efficient, and sustainable, outweighing the drawbacks. Yes, it’s expensive, but at my resort, guests have only appreciated the organic nature of the walls and our effort to reintroduce natural materials and local techniques in a commercial space dominated by concrete. We need to use ‘design’ to draw people’s curiosity. How else will there be awareness?"
Photo by: Ladakh Eco Resort
Asia Sustainable Travel, in partnership with Hospitality Alliance of Subic Bay Freeport Zone, will host a AST Forum at The Garden by Pacific Ace on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 at 3:00 pm.
We are honored to have Susan Santos de Cardenas, Green Destinations Southeast Asia Partner, as the esteemed guest speaker. She will share insights into how hospitality companies can future proof their businesses using sustainability as a revenue strategy.
If you would like to join us, simply reply to this email to RSVP.
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