In an era dominated by efficiency and modern construction demands, the ancient art of rammed-earth building faced near extinction. Yet, Martin Rauch, a visionary craftsman, has breathed new life into this sustainable and expressive building method. His work not only preserves a vanishing tradition but pushes it into uncharted territories of innovation and modernity.
A Passion Born in Vienna
In 1983, while studying under Matteo Thun at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Rauch chose to explore unfired clay as his final project. This unconventional choice marked the beginning of a lifelong journey. Rauch developed the concept of “Lehm, Ton, Erde” – “loam, clay, earth” – encapsulating craft, artistic expression, and sustainability. These principles have guided his work ever since, setting a foundation for decades of exploration.
Pioneering Techniques and Early Experiments
After returning to his hometown of Schlins, Austria, Rauch began experimenting with rammed-earth construction, starting with sculptures and ovens. In 1986, he entered a competition to design noise barriers using locally sourced earth. Though his groundbreaking ideas were not realized at the time, they laid the groundwork for his future projects. By the 1990s, Rauch’s creations, like the curved walls in the Feldkirch hospital, showcased the material’s potential to enhance indoor climates and architectural aesthetics.
Bridging Tradition and Modernity
Drawing from global traditions, Rauch integrated ancient techniques like France’s pisé construction with his own innovative methods. He envisioned rammed-earth structures that embraced the clean, contemporary lines of modernism while maintaining the material’s inherent beauty and environmental benefits.
In collaboration with architects like Rudolf Reitermann and Peter Sassenroth, Rauch constructed the Chapel of Reconciliation in Berlin – Germany’s first public rammed-earth building in 150 years. This project demonstrated how modern engineering and traditional materials could coexist, inspiring a new wave of sustainable design.
A Global Impact
Rauch’s techniques have been embraced worldwide, from schools in Bangladesh to cultural centers in Saudi Arabia. His projects with firms like Herzog & de Meuron further refined the art of rammed earth, leveraging semi-automated processes to scale production without compromising on quality or sustainability.
A Vision for the Future
Martin Rauch’s journey exemplifies the marriage of tradition and innovation. His vision extends beyond individual projects to entire cities built from earth, offering environmentally friendly, structurally sound, and aesthetically striking solutions for modern construction.
As Rauch continues to redefine what’s possible with this age-old material, his work stands as a testament to the power of resilience, creativity, and a commitment to sustainability.
Designed in close collaboration with the architect Roger Boltshauser, Rauch House overlooks the village of Schlins, Vorarlberg, in Austria. Many technical aspects were without precedent, so involved an ongoing process of experimentation between the collaborators. The house is nestled in the hillside, made from earth excavated from the site on which it stands, and gestures towards the valley with shifting blocks and generous openings.
It is clear that the house is an exercise in practising Rauch’s proclamation that he wants to ‘build contemporary forms’. The rhythm of the exterior is defined by erosion checks – clay bricks entirely handmade by Rauch that serve to slow the flow of water on the surface of the building. The successive bricks surface as horizontal stripes with a crayon-like line that has a softness which surrenders to the character of the rammed-earth walls they sit amid. This spirit is not lost in the interior either, and the haptic qualities of the earth are emphasised in the oval space enclosing the staircase. Moving through the building means ascending through this dramatic vertical tunnel of clay. There is a pleasant balance to the building. Living needs are gently taken care of within the constraints of the rectangular volume.
A clarity and sharpness characterises the form, and the gleaming white-clay and quartz sand lining of the interior spaces produce sleek rooms within which to view the adjacent expansive landscape. The increasing level of refinement at play throughout the building, from silken surfaces, to handmade tiles, to exposed coarse clay, confidently tells the story of transformation that is at the core of the project, and indeed much of Rauch’s oeuvre.
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