Hybrid Construction Elements
The aim of Think Earth Subproject 8 is to develop sustainable, hybrid components made of timber and earth. The focus here is on a low ecological impact and compliance with current standards, while at the same time using efficient production methods. Holistic concepts for prototypes are being developed with 22 research and industry partners. Following an initial development phase, comprehensive tests will be carried out on a 1:1 scale to validate their suitability for the construction industry.
The subproject 'Hybrid Construction Elements' aims to develop new types of timber and earth building elements for general use in the construction industry. Research and development will be carried out on floor slabs as well as load-bearing and non-loadbering interior and exterior walls. The new elements will be characterized by a low ecological footprint, compliance with Swiss norms and standards in the construction industry, and compatibility with modern and scalable production techniques. The subproject is made up of six research partners from architecture and engineering and sixteen project partners, including numerous architecture and civil engineering firms, manufacturers, start-ups and associations.
The subproject will begin with a survey of existing timber and earth building types. Existing work and know-how will be later incorporated into preliminary studies with models and tests on a small scale. The elements selected from the initial tests will then be further improved and gradually developed for production and 1:1 prototypes. Ultimately, a series of full-scale tests are planned with the 1:1 prototypes of the subproject in order to demonstrate the overall performance of the newly developed hybrid elements, including in the areas of fire protection, acoustics, building physics, weathering and durability.