Building with earth - Gernot MINKE (1)

Kindergarten, Sorsum, Germany
The kindergarten has a central dome, built
from loam (mud) bricks and with a free
span of 10 m, over a multi-purpose hall. Its
thickness is only 30 cm. Each of the three
group rooms is covered with two domes
which meet at a central arch. The roofs of
the side rooms and corridors are formed
by a timber structure. Most of the outside
walls are earth-bermed. The whole building
is covered by a 15-cm-thick earth layer and
living grass.
The design exhibits a harmonious integration
into the landscape, and the result is a
highly energy-efficient building.
The earth blocks were extruded in a brick
factory, and have a special rounded surface
that offers positive acoustic effect in terms
of sound distribution. The slight outward
inclination of the blocks causes a corbelling
effect, which eliminates the focusing of
acoustic waves.
Architect: Gernot Minke, Kassel, Germany
Completion: 1996
Area: 595 m 2
Exterior walls, plinth: Porous bricks
Roof: Mud brick domes; timber structure, covered
by 15 cm mineral wool; water and rain
proof plastic-covered fabric; 15 cm earth, wild
grass vegetation.
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Built examples