I went to a local building supplies store over here, called Hornbach. It's similar to a Home Depot or a Lowe's in the US, with everything you need for your home or garden project.
Making my way through the aisles, I saw something I didn't expect to see: mud. Mud bricks, to be exact. And mud plaster, and mud flooring, and mud insulation, and some mud related hardware to go with it all. These particular products are made by a company called Grün Lehmprodukte, based in Reinheim, Germany. I have never bought or used their products (but I am tempted to) so I can't attest to their quality. But I thought the concept was an interesting one.
Building with mud is not at all a prevalent building material over here. But it is becoming more popular for it's environmental qualities, energy efficiency, and health benefits. Grün Lehmprodukte claims that the product prevents mold formation, regulates temperature and humidity in the building, and absorbs smells and toxicities (VOCs) from the air.
While I usually think of the adobe buildings of the American southwest when I think of mud architecture, this company has produced a product similar to how we commonly build. However, they've been able to produce their product without expending the energy needed to fire bricks to or to make concrete. Plus, they've gone one step farther, by modernizing this centuries old product. Not only can it be bought in block form for structural walls, and as a plaster to coat and protect the walls, but also in a rough powder for use a an insulating material within a wall structure or under a roof structure. They've developed a floor and a wall system that is pre-cut to be used with underfloor and in wall heating systems.
Their website, although, only in German, can be found here: Grün Lehmproduckte.
Making my way through the aisles, I saw something I didn't expect to see: mud. Mud bricks, to be exact. And mud plaster, and mud flooring, and mud insulation, and some mud related hardware to go with it all. These particular products are made by a company called Grün Lehmprodukte, based in Reinheim, Germany. I have never bought or used their products (but I am tempted to) so I can't attest to their quality. But I thought the concept was an interesting one.
Building with mud is not at all a prevalent building material over here. But it is becoming more popular for it's environmental qualities, energy efficiency, and health benefits. Grün Lehmprodukte claims that the product prevents mold formation, regulates temperature and humidity in the building, and absorbs smells and toxicities (VOCs) from the air.
While I usually think of the adobe buildings of the American southwest when I think of mud architecture, this company has produced a product similar to how we commonly build. However, they've been able to produce their product without expending the energy needed to fire bricks to or to make concrete. Plus, they've gone one step farther, by modernizing this centuries old product. Not only can it be bought in block form for structural walls, and as a plaster to coat and protect the walls, but also in a rough powder for use a an insulating material within a wall structure or under a roof structure. They've developed a floor and a wall system that is pre-cut to be used with underfloor and in wall heating systems.
Their website, although, only in German, can be found here: Grün Lehmproduckte.
