Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2015

The main purpose of the study is to help answer the problem of environmental pollutions caused by agricultural waste products, specifically eggshell and rice-hull because these are abundant in the Philippines and to convert it into sustainable construction materials. The study used the rice-hull as masonry units which were placed inside polypropylene bags and the eggshell powder as replacement for sand in cement-sand ratio for plastering adapting the bagwall construction method, bounded to the design of a catenary arch. There has been a prototype structure of the rice-hull bagwall construction that was created and applied with the said waste products as construction materials. The load bearing capacity, water-seepage, thermal resistance, flammability, appearance, and the plasticity of the plaster were tested and documented. The result shows that the rice-hull bagwall structure will stand for as long as the catenary curve will be followed properly and did pass the load requirements. The structure has a better thermal resistance compared to a standard hollow block which means it can provide a cooler room temperature. The plaster was also impenetrable to water and was fire resistant as long as it is not damaged by cracks. The ratio and proportion of the cement-eggshell powder plaster were 1:1 and 1:2 and were able to stick to the surface of the bagwall. In general the rice-hull bagwall structure was a sustainable building construction method. This study will help pave the way to discover more renewable building materials which will reduce the environmental hazards caused by agricultural waste products and will provide an innovative shelter for Filipinos.