Pisé. Stampflehm

The publication addresses the history and significance of rammed earth construction in Central Europe, particularly in Switzerland, and examines – based on historical models – the potential of this building method for contemporary construction. Thus, the book contributes to the preservation of existing architectural monuments while simultaneously creating the foundation for further research with this first comprehensive documentation. Building on this, the editors explore the potential of the material for today’s constructions, especially regarding a regional, identity-forming, and resource-efficient architecture. The advantages of earth – strength, fire resistance, and good indoor climate properties – already advocated for its use in the 16th and 17th centuries. Disadvantages, such as dependence on weather conditions during on-site construction, can now be mitigated through prefabrication. The exclusively compressive load capacity can be bridged by potential prestressing. With these measures, the building material – as an ecological and fully recyclable material – becomes an attractive alternative in contemporary construction.