House Heinz

The building in Dornbirn was constructed as a prototype to contribute to the development of resource-efficient construction methods using load-bearing rammed earth and wood. The goal of the project was to construct a fully load-bearing solid structure made of prefabricated rammed earth elements and thereby gain new insights for sustainable building construction. The individual building sections are organized functionally and form an ensemble with a compact spatial layout, which includes a main residential unit and a guest apartment. Access to the building is barrier-free via a ramp leading to a covered entrance area with rammed-earth arches. The floor plan is deliberately kept simple and robust, allowing for future modifications. The spatial center is the courtyard-like outdoor area of the house, which provides orientation, natural light, and ventilation.

The rammed earth walls serve both structural and space-defining functions. The structure is complemented by a clay-filled wooden beam ceiling, which contributes to thermal stability and highlights the interplay between wood and earth. By prefabricating the rammed earth elements, precise components could be produced and efficiently assembled on-site. The project thus provides practical insights for the further development of structural rammed-earth construction. The building serves as a demonstration project for building with rammed earth and wood, showcases possibilities for resource-efficient construction using regional materials, and combines traditional materials with contemporary requirements.