After successful completion of the course, students are able to.use the sustainable building material earth/clay in different contexts (innovative new building, low-tech new building, renovation of existing buildings, new building in traditional earth building countries). The constructions and component structures suitable for different boundary conditions, climates and regional building traditions are known, the advantages of earth building can be described.

Students are trained in their role as planners for building and renovating using clay and in connection with renewable raw materials as a resource-saving building decision. Using concrete structural solutions, the students should get to know the possible uses of clay for new buildings and renovations. In addition to the technical basics of materials and renovation constructions (component variants), their ecological profile is conveyed.

Students are trained to build and refurbish using clay and in conjunction with renewable raw materials as a resource-saving construction decision in their role as planners. On the basis of concrete structural solutions, the students should become acquainted with the possible uses of clay for new construction and renovation. In addition to the technical basics of materials and renovation constructions (component variants), their ecological profile is conveyed. Through the combination of practical and theoretical teaching, the understanding and applicability of clay in connection with renewable raw materials and sustainable constructions shall be optimally conveyed. Life cycle analysis (LCA) and lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) are also presented and applied.

Main courses:

Earth building nationally and internationally

Historic clay building in Austria: conservation, renovation and construction in the existing stock

Sustainable building with renewable raw materials: clay construction practice workshop in Niedersulz

Comparative cultural view of architecture - earth-building cultures in a global comparison

Supplementary courses:

Sustainable Construction with Renewable Resources "Sustainable Renovation with Renewable Resources"

Building physics and human ecology aspects

Excursions

The technological foundations of earth building are taught in the form of lectures.

The learned contents are applied and practiced on the basis of small design and calculation exercises.

In the Lehmbau workshop in the summer semester, earth building details are created as 1: 1 constructions by hand Thus, earth building is taught in a practical way. In addition, the learnt knowledge and experiences are documented in essays and documentations.

This year, the module Earth Building will take place in the summer term

270.088 Earth Building National and International -symposium, excursions, documentation

253.280 Sustainable building with renewable raw materials.

Relevant planning criteria for energy efficient and sustainable design, planning and construction as a basis for decisions.

Summer term

253.E48  Historic Earth Building in Austria: Preservation, renovation and building in existing buildings

253.E52 Earth building practice workshop: Practical building with clay

4 days in May

251.845 Earth building cultures in a global comparison

Additional topics

253.E47 Human Ecological Aspects 

4 blocks

Proof of achievement
orally by reviewing the knowledge presented
written by creating small drafts, calculations, essays and documentations
Artisanal by creating 1: 1 Lehmbazu constructions