Founded in 2017, Hive Earth is a groundbreaking construction company based in Accra, Ghana, that champions sustainable building practices using rammed earth technology. Co-founded by Joelle Eyeson and her husband, Christian Deheer, Hive Earth is dedicated to reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint by incorporating locally sourced materials and innovative techniques. Their journey began with extensive research into traditional African building methods, mainly rammed earth, and has led to the successful implementation of sustainable construction practices across Ghana and beyond. Hive Earth has become a beacon of sustainable development, promoting eco-friendly construction methods that are both cost-effective and environmentally responsible.
Africans Column had the privilege of interviewing Joelle Eyeson, the co-founder and managing director of Hive Earth, to delve deeper into the company’s vision, challenges, and the impact of their sustainable practices on the construction industry.
Africans Column: Joelle, thank you for joining us today. Can you start by telling us about the origins of Hive Earth and how you began working with rammed Earth and other traditional building methods?
Joelle: I’m Joelle, co-founder and managing director of Hive Earth. My partner and husband, Christian Deheer, and I have been running Hive Earth since 2017, but our research into earth construction spans over a decade. One key motivator for starting Hive Earth was a project we began in 2012 when we acquired a few hundred acres of land in Dodowa, aiming to build a community there.
Christian initially launched the business before I relocated to Ghana in 2014. He started by selling land and developing infrastructure, like roads, with a focus on affordable and eco-friendly homes. During this process, he noticed a significant amount of material being excavated and wondered if it could be utilized rather than discarded.
This curiosity led us to explore traditional African building methods, particularly mud houses common in rural areas. We experimented with various techniques, including mud bricks, adobe, compressed earth bricks, and eventually, rammed earth. Our initial research was purely theoretical, conducted online, where we discovered that rammed earth was popular in hot climates like Australia and Mexico.
At that time, rammed-earth construction was not widely practised in Ghana. Some NGOs had prototypes, but no one used them on a larger scale. We studied traditional earth-building methods in rural areas, with Christian spending a year in northern Ghana to research, observe, and learn. Combining this field research with online findings, we built our first rammed-earth prototype in 2013 through trial and error.
Our first significant project was a school for an American NGO, which taught us valuable lessons about management, material selection, site conditions, and pricing. From there, we pivoted to smaller projects, starting with feature walls for architects in Accra. Orthner Orthner & Associates was among the first to patronize our work, and a feature wall we built for them in Tesano remains a notable project.
Our breakthrough came with a residential project in 2017-2018, a five-bedroom house with vibrant colors and layers, thanks to a supportive client who allowed us creative freedom. This project significantly advanced our skills and visibility.
Since then, we’ve worked on numerous projects, including international ones in Dubai, Nigeria, Benin, and the UK. Notable collaborations include projects with Adjaye Associates, such as the Sandbox Beach Club and Dot.Ateliers Art Gallery. We’ve also developed earth tiles, expanding our offerings beyond rammed-earth construction.
Africans Column: Is Christian an architect, or do you work with architects on your projects?
Joelle: Christian is a Construction Technician by training, but he is currently a Rammed-Earth Consultant with extensive experience working with architects. He is the on-site expert, particularly with rammed earth, while I handle the business side. We collaborate with architects, and recently, we added a feature on our website that allows clients to hire architects directly through us. This helps streamline the process, especially for clients who are unsure where to start.
Africans Column: How do you integrate traditional African building techniques with modern sustainable practices?
Joelle: We often consult on specifications to ensure they align with traditional methods and modern sustainability standards. Many of our clients are pan-Africanists who want their homes to reflect natural, traditional elements. For instance, traditional techniques like patterned mud homes in Cameroon or heat-regulating designs in Burkina Faso inspire our designs. Ultimately, we aim to merge these traditional methods with modern requirements, guided by both architects and client preferences.
Africans Column: Considering your extensive experience, what are some benefits of using rammed earth or other local materials compared to conventional construction methods?
Joelle: Rammed earth offers significant sustainability benefits, especially in hot, dry climates like Ghana. It provides excellent thermal insulation, keeping interiors cool and regulating humidity. It’s also soundproof, load-bearing without needing iron rods for single-story buildings, and termite-proof due to its compression. However, contrary to some beliefs, rammed earth is not cheap. The process involves extensive material testing, manual labor, and time, making it more labor-intensive and costly compared to sandcrete blocks.
Africans Column: Some people believe rammed earth requires a lot of maintenance and may not last as long as cement or sand walls. What’s your view on this?
Joelle: That’s a misconception. Rammed earth walls are incredibly durable and have high compressive strength. Unlike block walls, which can be easily damaged, rammed earth walls are robust and maintenance-free once sealed. They don’t require frequent painting or plastering. Our mixes sometimes include aggregates and earth to protect against extreme weather and saltwater, ensuring longevity. Properly sealed walls can last 20 to 30 years without maintenance, much longer than many expect.
Africans Column: Research and development are core to your work. Can you describe some innovative techniques or materials you’re currently exploring?
Joelle: We’re currently researching agro-waste materials as binders, such as palm kernel husk, coconut husk, and shea butter residue. These materials have been used in products like our sandbox tiles. We’ve also explored using rice husk, a common binder in northern Ghana. Our goal is to incorporate locally available agro-waste into both our construction methods and products like floor and wall tiles, though we haven’t released these products widely yet due to time constraints.
Africans Column: You collaborate with NGOs on workshops and eco-friendly construction. How important is education in your mission, and what impact have these workshops had? How can mainstream architecture education be improved to include sustainable and local building materials?
Joelle: Education is crucial for growing the rammed earth industry and reducing costs. The more people are trained in these methods, the more widespread and affordable they become. Workshops and training sessions help disseminate knowledge and skills, fostering a community of practitioners who can promote and expand sustainable building practices. Partnering with construction companies across the continent allows us to reach more people and create jobs. Workshops also inspire participants to start their own projects or companies, contributing to the industry’s growth. Improving mainstream architecture education to include sustainable and local materials is vital for preserving our architectural identity and promoting environmentally friendly construction.
Hive Earth is at the forefront of a green revolution in the construction industry, proving that sustainable building practices are not only possible but also highly beneficial. Through the vision and dedication of co-founders like Joelle Eyeson, the company is paving the way for a more sustainable future in Africa. As awareness grows and more people embrace eco-friendly construction, Hive Earth stands as a testament to the power of innovative thinking and environmental stewardship.
