ABSTRACT
This text analyzes a building system that originated in the municipality of Tepeyahualco (in the State of Puebla, central Mexico) and used to make rammed earth walls. It describes the geographical and historical context and presents information from architectural and structural surveys along with testimonies of local craftsmen. These data have been verified in laboratory work at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), and the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, UAM-X (Metropolitan Autonomous University-Xochimilco); the initial results of which are presented in this paper, which also seeks to emphasize the cultural values of the technique and to explore its possible application in sustainable dwellings, as an alternative in satisfying the growing demand for housing in Mexico.
