Mid-century earthen architecture in Aotearoa New Zealand—a new vernacular?

Earth was once widely used as a building material in Aotearoa New Zealand; it was an integral part of the vernacular architecture. Indigenous Māori developed their own earthen techniques, and European settlers adapted those from their countries of origin. During the twentieth century, earth construction fell out of favour, and by 1930 it was all but non-existent. After the Second World War, however, a new interest emerged, motivated not by nostalgia, but by pragmatism and a desire to find modern techniques for utilising earth to build everyday houses. The mid-century builders looked to modern technology and current research in soil engineering, in particular the work of Christchurch engineer, P.J. (‘Pip’) Alley. Three groups of earth buildings, built between 1947 and 1965, are the enduring legacy of this era, and they provide evidence of a mid-century movement towards a new earthen vernacular in Aotearoa New Zealand.