Remembering Adobe

April 2nd, 2024

When the residents of San Juan, La Laguna, see Walter Thomas and his family making adobe bricks, they stop, smile and say: "Gracias por este recuerdo, gracias por mantenerlo vivo” / " I remember making adobe with my grandfather as a child, thank you for this memory and for keeping this tradition alive."

Adobe is a mud brick made by mixing earth, pine, and water, then placing the mixture into molds to harden in the sun; a technique that has been used by indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica for several thousand years.

Modern construction techniques are taking a huge toll on the environment. Transporting materials like brick and cement produces a huge amount of CO2 and toxic waste, not to mention the energy needed to transform raw materials in the first place. Comparatively, adobe bricks are entirely biodegradable and are usually made from soil found right on the construction site. Instead of heavy machinery, Thomas and his brother step into mud to combine the earth, water and pine. Adobe completely avoids the use of greenhouse gas emissions. Better yet, its earthen makeup absorbs and slowly releases heat, keeping the house cool during the day and warm at night (New Mexico State University).

For Thomas, the benefits of adobe surpass ecology and engineering. Even if this process is physically demanding and takes a lot of time, continuing this tradition is a souvenir for his community. With a smile, he proudly reminds us that: “When the time comes, these bricks will go back to the earth, as will all of us, but in the meantime, this earth will save us.”