Taipa (Building Material)

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Taipa fortifications at Paderne Castle in the Algarve, Portugal

Taipa^[1] is a technique used in the building of walls using the raw materials of mud, chalk, lime and gravel. Taipa has been used in the architecture of many cultures throughout the world. Because of the nature of the materials used it is incombustible, thermally insulating and very strong and hardwearing. It also has the added advantage of being a very low cost and simple way to construct walls.

1 Fortifications
2 Dwellings
3 Gallery
4 References

[edit] Fortifications

Good examples of the extremely resilient and hardwearing of this building material can be seen in many fortifications across the world. It was extensively used in the construction of the Great Wall of China and in Islamic fortifications on the Iberian Peninsular particularly in the Algarve. A good example is Paderne Castle near Albufeira.

[edit] Dwellings

The use of Taipa for the construction of houses is also widespread good examples can be seen in Brazil were there are two methods of construction. One technique is called labour or “The Galician” in Portuguese where the raw material is laid horizontally with wooden larths to form the walls. The second is called “Pilao” or “Apiloada” where the material is piled and compressed into horizontal layers a course at a time.