Over the past five years, our practice has seen an explosion in the use of gabions within residential projects. I think this is mostly down to their versatility, relatively low cost, and the fact that they are fairly easy to install. So how are they used in domestic construction?
WHAT IS A GABION WALL?
At its simplest, a gabion wall (from the Italian term gabbione meaning 'big cage') is a modular containment system - typically referred to as a cage or basket made from a wire mesh and filled with rock. The cage element is constructed most commonly as a square, rectangular or trapezoidal.
TYPES OF GABIONS
There are two main types of gabion wall construction-those built as retaining walls for structural purposes and those built for shallower retaining walls that only need to hold backa very small amount of soil. Gabions can also be used for decorative landscaping, too.
There's a difference in how the various types are built:
Structural retaining walls
The original use for gabions is in large civil construction projects as gravity retaining walls, such as at the side of a motorway, retaining the sloping banking above.
They can be used domestically when building a house into a sloping site, for example.
In this application numerous cages are laid side by side and stacked up (in an overlapping layout), these are internally braced and laced together. They are filled with angular stones with known structural properties, compacted and then back filled with suitable infill material, such as a wellgraded granular material.
この記事は Homebuilding & Renovating の June 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Homebuilding & Renovating の June 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
WHY I CHOSE...TO HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
Hiring a professional to help in an area you're not confident with can be invaluable. Ben Adam-Smith did just that by employing an interior designer to inject character into his and his wife Kay's self-build
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR HOME OVERHEATING
With UK summers getting hotter, what steps can be taken to prevent overheating in homes? We outline what you can do to have a comfortable property all year round
Multifunctional home office
How to create a hybrid space that's suitable for both work and home life
Build a new garage for less
Taking on a self-build or renovation project? Then factor in a garage from the beginning you can benefit from economies of scale and efficiency tactics, says Tim Phillips
The golden rules of house design
Designing a house is hugely exciting, but knowing where to start can also feel daunting. With the help of some top architectural experts, we bring you the golden rules that will ensure you create the home of your dreams
THE HEALTHY HOME
PART THREE: BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY IN OUR HOMES
Victorian overhauls
A carefully conceived extension could be the key to unlocking the potential of your period property without compromising its character. Let our selection of innovative schemes be your inspiration...
Bird's eve view
Peter and Romney Lelliott opted for an upside-down new build, enabling them to enjoy far-reaching country views from the elevated living space of their contemporary new home
A collage to treasure
Kirstin Eriksson has transformed her Cotswold property by taking it from a neglected cottage to a perfect family home packed full of clever design ideas
Hidden, paradise
With hard work and a lot of initiative, Minnie and James Vosper lovingly brought their run-down home into the 21st century