History of “Rammed Earth”

The history of “rammed earth” technique is very old. In Japan, it began during the Yayoi period (circa 300 BCE to 300 CE) and was mainly used for defensive walls and the foundations of ancient tombs. It also has a long history in China, where the Great Wall was built using rammed earth.

The application method is simple. A frame is created using boards, and soil is placed between the boards. Then, the soil is compacted with a rod and finally the boards are removed. Since it is difficult to harden all the soil at once, the process of adding and hardening is repeated many times, creating layers similar to baumkuchen or mille-fuille. At that time, the purpose was to build a strong wall rather than a decorative one. Horyu-ji Temple, the oldest wooden structure in the world and the first registered World Cultural Heritage in Japan, also used rammed earth technique.

As time passed, the rammed earth technique used in castle construction to enhance defense evolved into creating stronger and more beautiful structures. Rammed earth walls began to be used for the external walls of Japanese feudal lord’s residences, private houses, and temples, incorporating decorative elements as well.

In the earthen walls often constructed using the rammed earth technique, white horizontal lines began to appear. These lines originated from the lines called “jōgi-suji” used in the walls of imperial palaces, which represented the prestige associated with the imperial family. This practice spread to temple walls, where the number of “jōgi-suji” (white horizontal lines) came to represent the temple’s rank. Among the types, three, four, or five lines, the five-line patterns became recognized as the highest rank.



Although traditional rammed earth walls are part of architectural heritage, they have become rare in recent years because they require the significant amount of labour.

On the other hand, the stratified finish created by rammed earth technique has attracted attention for its high level of design. In modern times, increased flexibility in design has led to the addition of cement to rammed earth walls, the creation of curves, and the development of more complex pattern, including rammed earth walls and rammed earth-like finishes.

Contemporary rammed earth continues to evolve, respecting tradition while adapting to modern needs and techniques.

BELLART Rammed Earth Finish

In order to recreate the natural warmth and beauty of earthen materials, as well as the stratified finish of the traditional rammed earth technique, we have arranged the traditional rammed earth finish using BELLART. The greatest advantages are its wide range of colours and diverse finish patterns, making it possible to create various rammed earth finishes. The finish, which is stacked like strata in different patterns, creates a solid wall surface.

Metro Sunachika (Japan)

The combination of earth-toned colours and various patterns creates a finish that marches the image of geological strata.

The Appeal of Texture Paint "BELLART"

BELLART, a multi-design and decorative texture paint, stands out for its ability to create a wide range of finish patterns with just a single product. Taking advantage of this appeal, the traditional rammed earth finish arranged with BELLART is currently attracting attention.

With a wide variety of colours and patterns, it can also be used to create a Western-style finishes that gives a completely different impressions to the traditional Japanese rammed earth finish. Another attractive feature is the wide range of designs that can be achieved by combining the colours and patterns. Furthermore, BELLART, which can be used to create a variety of finishes using a single material, is a product that meets the current market demands for space efficiency, labour-saving, and resource savings in inventory management.

Job References