ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Building With Earth, For the Earth: AN INTERVIEW WITH LOS CABOS ARCHITECT CARLOS ESPINO
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ew building projects are as synonymous with Los Cabos as pristine beaches and perfect weather, and the coastline looks different every six months as more and more developments and resorts are built. Unfortunately, many of these new building projects don’t take sustainability into account, likely because it isn’t legally necessary and it can require extra money, energy, and creativity. Pursuing sustainable architecture requires many considerations including resiliency of the structure, energy efficiency, the carbon footprint of both the materials used and the building process, and the use of regional methods and artisans. Los Cabos architect Carlos Espino, a specialist in the technique known as “rammed earth building” (tapial or tierra compactada in Spanish), has dedicated himself to sustainable architecture in Baja California Sur and is providing the region with a refreshing alternative to the mega builds and concrete construction that claim more and more beaches every year.
Carlos was born and raised in La Paz and completed his studies at the University of Guadalajara, including an exchange program with the Universitat Politécnic in Valencia, Spain. He holds certifications for Permaculture Design and Ecological Systems, and has studied and worked in Tulum, Quintana Roo, and Tecate, Baja California. After completing his education, Carlos moved to San Jose del Cabo in 2013 and began working with a local architectural firm that shared his passion for ecological building projects. Recently, he founded the Re Estudio Arquitectónico where, with the help of colleagues and skilled workers, he designs and builds “habitats in equilibrium with nature’s cycles and uses, using natural materials and local artisans.” He went on to express, “The sea is my motivation and a source of inspiration, just like the desert landscapes, oases, and other extraordinary places in Baja. I am very fortunate to be able to work here and the fact that people are open 8
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to this type of design and construction provides opportunities for healthier, more sustainable projects.” Carlos chose to pursue rammed earth building in order to learn about and promote a building method that is “more efficient and respectful.” Human civilizations have built their communities this way for thousands of years, all over the world, and in his eyes, “it is culture and tradition, and now we can do it with the help of technology. It’s the past, present, and future.” Rammed earth building is done by repeatedly compacting multiple layers of earth within a framework of wood and steel called “formwork.” Historically, the compaction was accomplished by hand with the end of a wooden pole, though now it is usually done with a mechanical ram. This process leaves the finished wall with faint, visible lines displaying the different layers of earth unless a finishing method is used to erase these differentiations. Oftentimes, these lines are left unaltered as they provide a beautiful, unique aesthetic
