Stuttgart, Germany
HFT Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences
Competence center for earth building at Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT Stuttgart), Germany
- Interdisciplinary experimentations and research of clay materials
- Realization of earth building projects
- Earth building workshops
- Seminars focusing on ecology
The competence center for earth building at the Department of Architecture and Design at HFT Stuttgart has flourished under the directorship of Professor Andreas Löffler.
Teaching
Having a practice-oriented learning concept is crucial and profitable for universities of applied sciences. Practical seminars have proven to be a great platform for learning and teaching. The earth building projects, workshops and seminars at HFT Stuttgart are available to undergraduate and graduate students. Prior knowledge or prerequisites are not required.
The teaching methods of our earth building projects are versatile:
- Lectures for theoretical content and basics of earthen constructions
- Supporting field trips to several earth buildings
- Workshops
- Building simulations via data processing thermal simulation tools which allow students to optimise the energy efficiency of their designs and to assess the thermal behaviour of the building
- Light Lab: our artificial sky helps students simulate how buildings relate to daylight
- Participatory planning processes with direct exchange between students and clients
- During a cooperative selection process the competing designs and ideas for solutions are discussed and checked for verifiable criteria
- Mutually agreed concepts are developed further jointly
- During the process the results are presented to a critical audience
- Interdisciplinary cooperation with external experts
- The competence center for earth building at HFT Stuttgart is always reachable for the students and provides constant support and help if needed
Research
Besides practical seminars, the earth building center focusses on interdisciplinary experiments and research into clay materials, in particular the outstanding structural and physical characteristics of this building material.
Essential qualities are for example:
- The material’s ability to positively influence indoor comfort and indoor air quality
- Its enormous potential in conjunction with other materials such as plaster, sheet materials, insulation and wood constructions
- The possibilities offered by small material modifications such as the adding of stabilising products
- Improvements of manual manufacturing processes which will help increase the standard of traditional earth building so it can keep up with the modern demands of building, such as comfort, thermal insulation and durability
Entrance Requirements
The following people may participate in courses offered at the Department Architecture and Design:
- Students enrolled at the Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart
- Visiting students enrolled in student exchange programmes (ERASMUS etc.)
- Visitors enrolled as a guest student
Links
- Kompetenzbereich Lehmbau
- nature center Ludwigsburg
- nature center Ludwigsburg (agenda21.de)
- nature center Ludwigsburg – Projekt profile on the Dachverband Lehm Homepage