structure in Germany, by Prof. Dr. Gernot Minke. The entire building is ecologically planned with timber and earth as the primary building materials.
“In a time in which environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly important, conservation of resources and environmentally sound construction methods are gaining in significance.
Today there is a demand for building materials which require little energy for their production, which are always recyclable and hygienically safe, and which also offer scope for creative design – modern building materials such as earth.
The “Dachverband Lehm e.V.” was established in 1992 as an association to promote the culture of building with earth and to represent all those interested or working in the field. Today we are the internationally recognised representative in Germany for clay and earth building. Our work in establishing technical building regulations, the “Lehmbau Regeln”, and our vocational training programme “Specialist for Building with Earth”, recognised by the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, are exemplary in Germany.
Earth can be used in a variety of different ways for most parts of a building from floors and ceilings to walls and roofs. The proportion of earthen building materials used varies according to situation and construction method – the term “earthen building” is therefore relative. Supporting walls can be made entirely of rammed earth or in combination with wood as a timber-frame construction.”
Check out their website for more good info: German Association for Building with Earth
Hi I am really interested to learn how to build with earth
Is there any way I can learn practically or study or work as an apprenticeship. Please let me know if possible. Thank you
There is a list of places that conduct workshops on earthen building at http://greenhomebuilding.com/education.htm#earthen
and you might check the workshops listed at http://greenhomebuilding.com/news_miscellany.htm
I met Horst Schroeder at the EarthUSA conference last year. He has worked for so many years to bring earth construction techniques to a high technical level, and to develop curriculum for thorough training.
I bent his ear for a few minutes about earthbags and earthquakes. Although they don’t have many quakes in Europe, he encouraged me that it should be a strong way to build in hazardous areas.
Kurt Gardella was also at EarthUSA last year. He completed his studies at Dachverband Lehm eV, and is offering similar courses in the Southwest US and online.