Construction accounts for one third of global resource use and nearly half of global energy use, and buildings have a significant impact on the environment, climate and quality of life. In times of climate change, future-proof buildings have to be built resource-efficient and sustainable. In the discourse on the (grey) energy balance of buildings, environmentally and climate-friendly natural and recycling materials are thus increasingly being returned to public awareness in Europe. Including the oldest building material in the world: raw earth.

As abundant, cost-effective and energy-efficient materials, earth and clay hold enormous potential for the future of building and are increasingly being rediscovered as a sustainable building solutions. Contemporary statements such as the Alnatura Campus Darmstadt, which was built, among others things, with the tunnel excavation material of Stuttgart 21, illustrate how the return to traditional construction methods can bring ecology and sustainability into architecture. Inspirational examples like this can be found on every continent – and should become more prominent in cities and urban environments.

“Earthen architecture today” shows, inter alia, the 40 finalists of the TERRA Award, the first international prize for contemporary earthen architectures. Presented by the International Centre of Earthen Architecture CRAterre and the research and experimental centre on building materials amàco, the award recognizes outstanding earth building projects from all over the world. From residential and commercial buildings to public facilities to interior and exterior design, the selected projects show how versatile and aesthetically earth and clay can be used as building materials. Earthen building is not just about adding value to local resources and potentials, but also about making a significant contribution to social building practice and facilitating healthy housing conditions. Because earth and clay create sustainable links: ecologically, economically fair, socially and aesthetically.

The exhibition about the TERRA Award was curated by Dominique Gauzin-Müller, international expert for sustainability in architecture and urban planning. At the CLB Berlin, Sally Below puts the individual contributions into an urban context, among others with an accompanying event. Video-Screenings give insight into earthen construction techniques, and in cooperation with Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge of the TU Berlin Natural Building Lab and other Berlin experts, exhibits make earth as building material tangible and comprehensible.

The exhibition panels will be shown in German. An English translation will be available in form of an accompanying booklet.

Exhibition Opening: Thursday, March 21, 7pm

Accompanying Event: Tuesday, April 2, full details available soon

Opening Hours: March 22 – April 21, Tuesday – Sunday, 3 – 7pm

Picture: Visitor Centre at the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Architects: :mlzd, Earthen company: Lehm Ton Erde Schweiz GmbH, Martin Rauch