Dutch brick

For the style of bricklaying, see Dutch Bond.

Colloquial term for concrete stabilized soil used to form blocks. High strength concrete requires all the materials Calcium (Lime) Aluminum and Silicone (clay) to be calcined together but if strength requirements are minimal (such as creating a footing over compressed soil but under a hardened road bed.) Concrete powder can be mixed directly with soil to produce a material with an intermediate strength that may be more useful for broader support for structures.

Dutch bricks are building-blocks made, not of brick, but of a mixture of concrete, sand and soil. They are not Dutch; rather, the name results from the use of the word "Dutch" to mean "inferior". The mixture of concrete, sand and soil is also known as Mexican concrete when poured in larger moulds.

This form of mudbrick has been adapted widely by the peoples of the Sahel such as Mali and Mauritania. Its use has been popularized by Peace Corps volunteers working in the region. The similar process of Rammed earth is also widespread in the continent of Africa and developing countries.

See also

• Adobe
• Building construction