As a recognised research institution and non-profit organisation, Bauhaus Erde focuses on the transformation of the built environment. Founded in 2019 by renowned climate researcher Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, we are now a 50-strong team from the fields of architecture, climate science, sociology, urban planning, geosciences, engineering and applied timber construction. We work practically and realistically with industry partners to explore new forms and practices of building.

In our in-house workshop, we translate research along the entire life cycle of buildings into applied design. We create prototypes for the structural applications of nature-based materials from regional sources and reusable construction, industrial and consumer waste.

The material samples presented investigate the use of clay as a key material in the context of regenerative construction. To this end, a locally sourced urban soil from Berlin is separated into the mineralogical fractions gravel, sand, silt and clay using a so-called sieve tower. A clay block, made from excavated material from a Berlin construction site, manually compacted and air-dried, demonstrates the possibility of producing pressure-resistant masonry products from regional soils. In addition, a composite brick made from hemp and loam demonstrates the potential of using the clay contained in loam as a natural binder to produce dimensionally stable insulating materials.