401_Highest contemporary rammed earth wall in Europe | AST77

Rammed earth consultancy for what could be the highest contemporary earth wall in Europe at 15 meter high.

Architect Peter Van Impe (AST77) wants to builds his own home in Tienen, Belgium, and is intrigued by contemporary Rammed Earth Construction. Together with BC studies, he proposes to use earth from the site, made available through the excavation of the semi-submerged basement. A design is conceived in which all spaces over 5 floors are organized around a single 15,5 meter high rammed earth wall.

Specimens where made to define colour, but more importantly, to achieve sufficient compression strengths of 3,2 MPa. For this, we mixed earth from the site with sand, gravels and pottery clay from Les Argilières Hins. We worked together onsite with contractor Het Leemniscaat for a smooth execution of works. A heating cable emitting 40°C heat was rammed into the wall for preventing frost, since the works took place in winter.

In the end, a beautiful wall made of only soils stands tall in this innovative project, which could only happen through an open and experimental mindset of all partners: AST77, BC studies, Argilières Hins and Het Leemniscaat.

Architect: AST77
rammed earth consultancy for architect and contractor: BC studies
Contractor: Het Leemniscaat
Additive clay provider: Les Argilières Hins
Structural Engineer: Util