Building sustainably with clay and wood

Detail view of the timber structure in the HORTUS office building in Basel.

The combination of wood and clay creates buildings and spaces of exceptional quality. Both materials are natural, locally available and fully recyclable. Together, they bring out strengths that complement each other perfectly: wood as the load-bearing structure, clay to regulate the indoor climate. The result: sustainable house building with clay and wood. And buildings that feel good in every way.

Bettina Baggenstos

Responsible for sustainable construction | clay timber construction | VDC | BIM
Co-Founder Lehmit

+41 71 388 51 67
bettina.baggenstos@blumer-lehmann.com

Wood and clay complement each other

Building sustainably with clay and wood has a future. This is because the combination works on several levels. Structurally, wood supports the building, while clay provides thermal regulation in the interior finish. In terms of building physics, clay regulates humidity and stores heat, while wood provides stability and flexibility. From an environmental perspective, both materials are almost carbon-neutral and can be returned to the natural cycle at the end of the building’s life. Building a house with clay and wood: This is a partnership that has proven its worth for centuries.

Detailed view of a clay-wood composite ceiling in the HORTUS building

Naturally regulating indoor climate and healthy living

Clay can absorb and release moisture. This property creates a balanced indoor climate. In addition, clay stores heat and releases it gradually. Clay has sound-insulating and fire-retardant properties, neutralises odours and is free of pollutants. Building a house with clay and wood creates spaces in which you can breathe deeply.

Modern dining space in the Hortus with wooden beams, large windows and white chairs.

From interior finishing to cooling ceilings

When used in timber construction, clay can do more than just plaster. This is how building sustainably with clay can be seen in modern buildings: in our projects, we use loam panels for ceilings and walls – for example, in house building with clay in the Augarten climate-friendly housing development, where they were installed over an area of around 6500 m². In the meeting rooms of our own headquarters, clay ceilings passively cool the rooms in summer, replacing mechanical air conditioning systems. These ceiling elements show how the probably most traditional material can be integrated into modern building concepts.

Meeting room in the new office building at Erlenhof

Building a house with clay and wood

The combined construction method with clay and wood is versatile and is suitable for a wide range of building types and applications: residential buildings benefit from the balanced indoor climate and natural aesthetics. Schools, kindergartens and nurseries use clay-wood constructions to create a healthy learning and play environment. Office buildings, in turn, can improve the indoor climate through passive cooling and humidity control. Energy efficiency and sustainability requirements can also be met in commercial buildings. Building a house with clay and wood also enables flexible floor plans, short construction times thanks to prefabrication and individual design. In addition, every building will become more future-proof.