Adobe brick construction

[bixaorellana]

In one of the fabulous Egypt posts (anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=africa&action=display&thread=458&page=1) the Fazes have provided pictures of ancient adobe architecture.
On the Asia board, Kerouac shows adobe as abode for the dead: anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=asia&thread=297&page=1#4476

I live where adobe is commonly used in building, although concrete blocks are mostly preferred for their durability. Unprotected adobe will melt in the rain and also be weakened, making it unsafe during earthquakes. Since it rains more here than in some areas of the world where adobe is used, it must be kept plastered and painted in order to endure.

It's certainly one of the oldest methods of construction, dating back at least 4000 years. Like many people from the US, I associate adobe strongly with southwestern US and Mexican building. Thus, I was surprised to learn that the word adobe is of Egyptian origin.

Read more here, with lots of good links & photos: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe.

[spindrift]

Thanks for posting this thread. I had no idea of how adobe was made. I would like to visit Bam.

[onlymark]

You know Bam was devastated by the earthquake?

Before and after pictures -
The first one is mine from when I was last there -

[Deleted]

It's actually rather amazing that it lasted as long as it did. But what a shame it is gone.