Web database of sustainable settlements and neighbourhoods

Earthen building projects

Clay settlements and buildings

© Photo: lehmbaukurse.de

In addition to the particularly appreciated positive health and ecological properties, earthen building materials are also very popular on self-build sites, i.e. where people want to build themselves. Such construction sites are literally "uplifting" for those who create the rooms. Because clay can be wonderfully modelled, the material is particularly suitable for creative builders who want to realise their own authentic forms. The necessary knowledge can be learned relatively quickly in clay building courses.

The following project list includes 28 construction projects in Europe, mainly Germany, that have used earthen building materials in large quantities. The website can also be accessed via the following subdomain: www.lehmbau.siedlungen.eu

In the standard view, the earthen building projects are listed in descending order according to the number of residential units. The largest projects are therefore displayed first at the top.

Total residential unitsCompletionPOSTCODECityContribution date
Number of projects displayed: 27

    ecovillage Hanover

    Size: 500 residential units

    D - 30539 Hanover Kronsberg: adjacent to the Expo-Settlement Hanover-Kronsberg the "ecovillage Kronsberg" is to be built. The sponsor is the cooperative ecovillage hannover e.G., which was founded in 09/2019 and today (02/2021) already has 555 members. The cooperative will purchase the 49,300 m² site from the City of Hannover in February 2021; construction planning is in full swing.



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    Heinrich Böll Estate

    Size: 226 residential units

    heinrich-boell-siedlung-0613156 Berlin-Pankow: Consortium Winfried Brenne Architekten / Joachim Eble Architektur, 226 units, largest roof-integrated solar power system on residential buildings in Europe; research study on the costs of ecological building materials (comparison with Berlin reference house). Reference: 1999



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    Design study "Car-free solar settlement Nancystrasse

    Size: 140 residential units

    76187 Karlsruhe-Nordweststadt: the design was planned for an undeveloped plot of land as a student research project at the University of Karlsruhe in cooperation with the association ASKA e.V., but was not realized. Concept: 140 units, photovoltaic and biomass CHP, business and office facilities, community facilities, gastronomy, car sharing tower, reed sewage treatment plant, board stack wood construction, hemp, flax or cellulose insulation, social settlement concept, integrated living. Completion: not realized



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    Eden Orchard Settlement

    Size: 90 residential units

    Eden logo16515 Oranienburg: The Edensiedlung was founded in 1893 as "Vegetarische Obstbaukolonie Eden e.G.m.b.H.". The 18 founding members aspired to "a cooperative settlement on a soil-reform basis, exclusively for vegetarians". In 1901, the statutes were amended and since then anyone who "adopts a healthy lifestyle" can become a member of the cooperative. The Eden Garden Settlement developed a multi-layered horticulture. There is to this day a policy "Ecological horticulture" and specifications for the "Ecological building and settlement".. Completion: 1914



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    Ecological residential park Zeulenroda

    Size: 86 residential units

    Photo: Reimund Stewen, Cologne

    07937 Zeulenroda - Stadtbachring: Architecture: Reimund Stewen, Cologne; 87 units, low-growth house, building biology, timber frame construction



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    Ecovillage Sieben Linden

    Size: 60 residential units

    In-Entstehung_gr100px_200dpiD - 38489 Beetzendorf-Poppau: Here a new village for 300 inhabitants has been built since 1997. With currently 150 residents (approx. 60 units), a new self-sufficient village has been built since 1997, which enables people to live a sustainable lifestyle. There are 8 residential buildings plus the Regiohaus/Seminarzentrum, built in low-energy to passive house standards, in Sieben Linden (as of 10/2016). A straw-built guest house with 15 guest rooms is to be built in 2017/18.



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    S.U.S.I.

    Size: 45 residential units

    79100 Freiburg-Vauban (Project No. 1): 285 adults, children and young people in 45 flats which are mainly divided into shared flats. Former barracks buildings converted with a lot of own work, modelled on the Cherysee barracks in Constance; creation of low-cost living space; biodiesel CHP local heat supply, clay interior plastering, cellulose insulation etc., partly very large shared flats; food coop, first occupancy after renovation with ecological building materials: 1993.



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    Eco-settlement "Frasenweg

    Size: 36 residential units

    frasenweg-0134128 Kassel: Ecological settlement "Frasenweg", Hegger, Hegger-Luhnen, Prof. Gernot Minke, Kassel, 36 dwelling units, GFZ 0.7, loam and timber frame construction, consistent use of recyclable and energy-saving building materials, green roofs, mound houses, rainwater harvesting, conservatories



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    Housing estate Blessensahl Lübeck

    Size: 36 residential units

    23569 LübeckResidential complex Blessensahl. Architect: Günter zur Nieden, Lübeck, Completion: 1998



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    Pilot Project Ecological Housing Lübeck-Blessensahl

    Size: 36 residential units

    23569 Lübeck-Kücknitz: 36 social housing units in 3 buildings in low-energy and timber construction with a total living space of 2,213 m². Pilot project as part of the "Resource-saving construction" programme funded by the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The main premise in the implementation of this pilot project was the synthesis of healthy living, energy and cost-saving construction with child and family-friendly floor plans. Completion: 1998



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    Baltic Sea Beach Village Augustenhof

    Size: 30 residential units

    holiday village23749 Grube: get to know ecological-sustainable building standards during their Baltic Sea holiday or do not have to do without them. 30 wooden buildings with green roofs, clay interior plaster, wood pellet heating, solar systems, separate toilets. Community house. Sauna.



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    Tree houses by Frei Otto in Berlin-Tiergarten

    Size: 26 residential units

    baumhaus_berlin10787 Berlin-Tiergarten: 26 WEs, tree houses by the architect Frei Otto (Stuttgart); built as part of the IBA 1987. The idea of the individual, stacked single-family house is implemented here in a variety of architectural forms. Completion: 1991



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    WohnMichel in Michendorf

    Size: 25 residential units

    14552 Michendorf: Plot: 17,000 m², three houses in the 1st construction phase as two-storey apartment buildings and 500 m² living space each with eight or nine apartments. Together 25 WEs. Completion: 2019



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    WEG "Am Rundling

    Size: 22 residential units

    dream of life12487 Berlin-Johannisthal: 20 houses with 22 residential units (KfW 40-60) for 70 small and large people, ecological housing project. Number of parking spaces: 0.3 PkWs/WE, 100 m² solar collectors (50 kW), 23 kW photovoltaic system, 99 kW wood pellet system (with exhaust gas heat exchanger, downstream flue gas scrubber and condensate heat exchanger), 600 m³ grey water system, completion: 2007



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    Moor meadow settlement Kiel-Hassee

    Size: 21 residential units

    24113 Kiel-Hassee: Werkgemeinschaft für Architektur und Städtebau (Heidrun Buhse, H.Schulze, a.o.), 21 dwelling units, reed sewage treatment plant, compost toilets, BHKW with local heating network, planning by architects, cooperative, participation, community house, kindergarten, architectural office, organic building form. Completion: 1992



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    Garden City Bornstedter Feld

    Size: 19 residential units

    14467 Potsdam: 19 terraced houses on the edge of the BUGA site, completion: 2001. Ecological board stack solid timber house, life cycle assessment study. Architect's office Brenne-Eble, Berlin. Client: GSW, Berlin



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    Building Biology Settlement Friebertshausen

    Size: 19 residential units

    fribertsh35075 Gladenbach-Friebertshausen: 19 houses, about 29 adults and 34 children. Approx. 18.000 m2 Property. Additional 22.000 m2 leased (playgrounds, orchards, ponds), construction period: 1987-90



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    Community housing estate "Alte Gärtnerei" in Kiel

    Size: 17 residential units

    24113 Kiel: Follow-up project of the "Moorwiesensiedlung". Residential project with 17 building parties in 7 houses in low-energy standard and in consideration of ecological building principles. Occupation: 1999



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    Clay housing estate Saarbrücken

    Size: 14 residential units

    Clay housing estate Saarbrücken66115 Saarbrücken: Architect: W. Göggelmann (Saarbrücken), 14 dwelling units, community house, social project, 800- 1000 hours of own work, 1.250 Euro/sqm, bright yellow natural paint on clay plaster, straw clay walls. Construction time: 1988 - 1994



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    Clay housing estate Bous

    Size: 14 residential units

    bb966356 Bous (near Saarbrücken): 14 WE



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    Cologne-Blumenberg eco-settlement

    Size: 14 residential units

    cologne250827 Cologne-Blumenberg: Architect: Reimund Stewen, with passive solar use, natural building techniques (timber frame construction with 20% clay and 80% electricity infill), economical use of land, social diversity and cost savings through communal building, use of ecological building services, waste collection, recycling, installation of private gardens. Completion: 1989



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    Clay housing estate Schöneiche

    Size: 13 residential units

    15566 Schöneiche: Clay housing estate, 13 flats. Completion: 1998



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    Family hotel Weimar

    Size: 11 residential units

    Family hotel street view (2012)99423 Weimar: New building with 11 holiday apartments, each with kitchen and balcony in sizes from 22 to 75 m², as well as a restaurant and roof garden. Solid wood construction, clay interior plaster, clay paints and block heating plant. Completion: 2012



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    Neumühlen community housing estate

    Size: 10 residential units

    rereadIn-Entstehung_gr100px_200dpi27283 Verden: In 2016, there are 18 adults and 9 children aged 4 to 16 living in 9 houses on the Community Estate site. There is still room for one more house.



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    Ecological settlement "Clever Brise

    Size: 7 residential units

    23611 Bad Schwartau: sSeven terraced houses in timber frame construction with communal house and an office unit.Ecological and building biology materials, rainwater utilisation and combined heat and power plant. Completion: 1992



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    Student residence Vaakerstrasse Kassel

    Size: 2 residential units

    34127 Kassel: Two buildings with 4 room flatshares each in loam and low-energy construction, transparent thermal insulation, high proportion of own work. Completion: 1995



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    Mound house "Ökostation" Freiburg

    Size: 1 units

    79110 Freiburg-Seeparkgelände: Architecture: Möhrle (Freiburg), created as part of the State Garden Show; today used as a BUND centre for children and youth work (environmental education). Natural garden, solar systems, rainwater harvesting, mound wood construction. "Hogan" (Native American); ecological interior design (all-wood furniture, resource-saving household appliances, ...), completion: 1986



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