Projects

The Eden Project

Two sections of 45m long rammed earth wall make up most of one side of the visitor centre of this phenomenally successful Millenium project. After building a sample section for the design team to see and bidding successfully we mobilised in early August 1999. This involved hiring a local team to meet the contract specification. With 60% of the team being new to the work progress was slow during the first two weeks. Work was also slowed by very poor site conditions, wet weather and poor drainage.

After initial teething problems the wall advanced well, one section of 7.5m2, 4m3 or 10 tonnes were built every day. We had a 40 tonne dumper load of soil dug on the site delivered every four days, its total travel distance being about 150m. Initially sceptical the main contractors MacAlpine J.V. quickly came to see the work was highly programmable. Sample cubes were produced for every section of wall built, which ensured quality control, as with any other built component. The self weight of the wall and its absolute crushing strength are easily capable of carrying the roof load.

In fact the sample wall is something of a mystery to the contractors. Left uncovered since its construction in May 1999 it has weathered on top but failed to slump as they would expect. The main visitor centre wall under a wide roof overhang has a long life ahead of it.