Summer School Building with Earth
To this day, raw earth appears in only a fraction of the projects built in Europe. As such, it is rarely included in the education of students in architecture. Yet, this material is integral to our vernacular architecture – even if this has been forgotten in (too) many regions. And more importantly, it presents a deeply ecological character: locally available, unfired, recyclable and reusable – not to mention its applicability in structures and its contribution to good physical properties for the building. As such, earth represents a crucial asset in construction and architecture, as we are looking to make them sustainable.
Hence this summer school’s objective: to give the opportunity to learn to build with earth the only way it works – with your own hands. More precisely, this 1-week program aims to offer a good opportunity to dive deeper into the world of earth construction, and experience for yourself various earth techniques that are commonplace in the present-day practice.
What is earth, as a material? What are its properties? How is it rooted into our vernacular architecture? What does contemporary architecture in raw earth look like? How do you assess the potential of a local earth? How do you use earth to build in rammed earth, blocks, and to make plasters?
We will answer these questions through a combination of lectures, visits and hands-on workshops, led by experienced tutors and practitioners.
Here you can find an impression of last year's edition.
This Summer School is organised by
-BC studies & BC materials
-ULB, Faculty of architecture La Cambre Horta ULB
In collaboration with :
- Amaco, Gian Franco Noriega & Basile Cloquet
- Acruma, Arianna Fabrizi De' Biani
- Degré47, Lauranne Coornaert
PROGRAM
Introduction - General introduction to earth as a building material, through lectures, workshops (extended Carazas test + Grains de batisseurs) and a presentation of BC materials’ premises. Field tests of a natural earth mix to recognize its type and assess its possible uses in construction, through lecture and hands-on exercises. Basile Cloquet (Amaco) + Ken De Cooman (BC Studies)
Parallel training workshops - In addition to the technical training itself, each workshop day starts with a 1-hour lecture, including a Q&A session, covering the use of raw earth construction and architecture.
The rest of the day is dedicated to learning one specific earth technique :
Clay plaster: Arianna Fabrizi de' Biani (Acruma) + Anis Saoudi (BC Studies)
Earth bricks: Gian Franco Noriega (Amaco) + Jasper Van der Linden (BC Studies)
1:1 wall prototyping: Quentin Bourguignon (BC Studies) + Lauranne Coornaert (Degré47)
Project visits - Visits of relevant recent projects in Brussels that include geo-based (earthen) and bio-based materials.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Inscription starts from May 15th 2025
Inscription deadline, July 15th 2025
Price for the one week summer school will be €850 + vat.
But we'll have reduced tickets if you buy in time
-early bird (€750+vat) for May 15th until June 15th included
-young professionals -30y.o (€550+vat) first 5 tickets
-students (€400 incl. vat) first 10 tickets
If you inscribe as a student please send us proof (ex. copy of present student card).
to thomas.vilquin@ulb.be
This price does include lunches.
It does not include dinner and accommodation, these will need to be arranged by the participants.
Cancellation until August 1st included: 100 % refund
Cancellation from August 1st: no refund
Soon after inscription, you will receive a document with FAQ.
At the end of the summer school you will receive
-a certificate of attendance
-an invoice
For questions: mail to thomas.vilquin@ulb.be with topic: Summer School question
With the support of
Erasmus+ program
Bruxelles Environnement
