Idaaf Architects presents here the results of the ‘Alizi/Adobe Brick’ workshop, which explored the history and traditional methods for making adobe bricks, and in addition created a new design in order to find a way to continue its use in modern construction. The ‘Alizi/ Adobe Brick’ workshop took place in the summer of 2022 and included research and practical work with four selected participants. We studied Adobe Brick buildings in Kartli and in Kakheti; The workshop team also collected soil of ten different colours from various regions of Georgia and produced new Alizi/Adobe brick modules and decorative wall tiles.
Alizi and traditional methods of making it
Alizi, which means adobe brick in Georgian, is a sun-dried brick made by mixing earth and water with inorganic and organic additives such as sand, hay, sickle and other materials added for strength. The ratio of the various elements is determined following soil tests both on location and then in a laboratory. The makeup of the soil is quickly determined on location but a more detailed picture is provided in the laboratory. The tests determine the proportions of clay, sand and other elements in the soil, which dictates how much of the other materials need to be added. The formula for the making of Alizi is completely dependent on the soil from which it is made, and therefore there is no universal formula. As adobe is a completely indigenous material, everything depends on where it is made, therefore, it has had a great influence on the aesthetics of architectural design.
To make Alizi, a mould is filled with earth so that no air remains inside, otherwise the brick will crack. As soon as the mould is filled and the surface smoothed, the adobe brick is removed and dried for 3-4 weeks at the appropriate temperature after which it can be used for construction. To dry evenly, the brick needs to be turned over after a week.
The shape and dimensions of Alizi differ depending on the era and the place. The most common shapes are: rectangular, square, curved, plano convex and so on. The desired shape is achieved by hand or with a mould. Alizi is an environmentally friendly, sustainable building material, cheap to produce and with good sound and heat insulation plus high resistance to fire.
Photo: Landscape. Kartli.
Traditional Adobe Brick has a number of positive aspects:
– Cheapness – the materials are either free or very inexpensive;
– Localness – it does not require long-distance transportation, as the soil is mostly obtained nearby;
– Low energy as it consumes very little mechanical energy to produce or build;
– Less flammable;
– Good sound and heat insulation;
– Earthquake resistant;
– It is easy to build buildings of different shapes or dimensions with it;
– Adobe Bricks have a high, 8–12-hour dephasing ability;
– Long lasting, usually centuries;
– Non-toxic;
– Suitable also for interior use due to the variety of colors and organic forms.
– In normal climatic conditions, moisture is absorbed, which creates a cool environment;
– It is completely protected from insects.
However, Adobe brick also has disadvantages which must also be considered:
– The soil from which brick is made must necessarily contain 5% – 50% clay;
– It cannot withstand pressure, so roofing structures must be light;
– Building should preferably be only one or two-storey;
– The construction process often depends on the weather;
– The material is heavy; therefore, it needs a strong foundation;
– Adobe bricks are incompatible with water and the facades should be always plastered.
Photo 1: A mixture of soil, sand and hay for making traditional Alizi.
Photo 2: Adobe Brick wall detail.
Photo 3: Traditional Alizi making. Mtskheta.
Adobe Bricks in the world
Adobe is a widespread, ancient building material, the history of which begins in the ancient period. Sun-dried, unfired bricks were used by the people of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Later, it’s use spread to the Roman Empire and the countries of the Muslim world. Hindu civilizations as well as China also constructed with adobe bricks. In the Middle Ages, adobe spread to North America, where earth architecture hugely expanded, and it is still actively used in modern construction.
Adobe making has used various methods across the world, though they remain essentially the same. Alizi was mostly made by communities where people made a specific number of bricks for a particular building. Historic and archeological sources have been preserved to this day in the form of buildings, villages and other household structures such as: Ziggurat of Ur, Iraq. (2030–1980 BC); the city of Shibam, Yemen. (16th century); Khiva city wall, Uzbekistan. (10th century); Chan Chan city, Peru. (850); The great mosque of Djenne, Mali. (13th-14th century; Bee-Hive Houses in Harran, Turkey and many more.
The typical proportions of Adobe bricks by country look like this:
France – 40x30x5.5 cm | 30x14x8 cm | 35x27x5 cm | 53x25x9 cm;
Germany – 38x25x12 cm | 40x14x9 cm 25x12x6.5 cm;
Peru – 38x38x8 cm 28x28x8 cm;
Egypt – 22x14x11 cm | 38x18x14 cm;
USA – 53x25x9 cm;
Australia – 61x30x15 cm | 46x30x10 cm;
Mexico – 40x30x8 cm | 40x20x8 cm;
In short, adobe bricks have always been used in construction, although usage has decreased over time. But in recent years, interest in this material has rekindled and architects have started to find a place for it in modern construction.
Photo: Ziggurat of Ur, Iraq. (2030–1980 BC);
Adobe Bricks or Alizi in Georgia
The use of Alizi for building in Georgia dates from the Sixth to the Fourth millennium BC. Archeological excavations have uncovered Alizi structures in South-East Georgia, where the most important are the settlements of Arukhlo, Shulaveri and Khrami. They consist of circular residential and agricultural buildings constructed close to one other. In ancient times, adobe brick was one of the main building materials in Georgia, and it was used to build the castles of Armazi, Sarkine, Vani and other castles. In feudal times, some cities, such as Mtskheta and Urbnisi, were surrounded by Alizi walls.
This earth architecture was mainly to be found in the hot and dry regions of Georgia, such as Kartli and Kakheti, but usually only in poorer residential and agricultural buildings. It was no longer in use for major construction by the early Middle Ages.
But there are well-preserved buildings in the villages of Kartli and Kakheti whose construction began in the late 19th century and finished only after the Second World War when this locally produced building material was replaced by fired bricks made in factories. As part of the workshop “Alizi” organized by Idaaf Architects, we visited both regions to study Alizi buildings and were able to determine both their history and architectural features.
Photo: Landscape. Kartli.
KAKHETI
In Kvemo Magharo in Kakheti, houses and barns built with adobe bricks occupy a large area. These are mainly one or two-storey buildings, with two or four pitched envelope roofs and colorful facades. They were built by the Molokan, who came to Georgia from Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. The foundations are made from stone, but the ground and second floors are constructed using Alizi. The dimensions of the bricks are: 28x14x11 cm. They have a strong texture of hay as a protection against from the hot, local air. The larger amount of sickle in the brick gives better insulation. The outer walls are plastered with clay plaster, which protects the brick from the weather.
