From soil, to walls ...to soil

Abstract

While raw earth used to be a popular building material in our regions, it has been overwhelmed by the mass-production of fired bricks and concrete ever since the Industrial Revolution. Yet, it is currently resurfacing in the construction sector as a regenerative alternative to virgin-resourced, carbon-intensive and waste-yielding building products. However, the uses of earth remain niche-oriented and mainly in rural settings. To allow earth to enter mainstream construction, its visibility and applicability must grow. Therefore, this research focuses on one promising retrofitting application of earth in the urban context to analyze and evaluate its environmental potential. The aims are to assess the environmental impacts and evaluate the circularity of earth block masonry infill walls over multiple life cycles, and to demonstrate their practical feasibility. Hence, the main methods are life cycle assessment, research by design and prototyping. The proposed solutions are verified and validated through interviews and focus groups with experts. The final outcomes will provide quantitative and qualitative feedback for circular design solutions from an environmental life cycle perspective, thereby providing support for decision-makers in construction projects.