Contemporary earthen architecture in the northern temperate climate

Earth was used as in rural Denmark until about 1860. In the 20th century, some progressive social communities saw earth as one of the answers to their building experiments. Contemporary ecological tendencies are rooted in these early experimental houses. Especially the number of experimental family houses designed using passive strategies and renewable materials have increased. Often the earth material, with its low environmental impact, is involved in the construction process. Building qualities include both pleasant living spaces and comfort in terms of better indoor climate. During the last few years new developments towards industrialized earthen building components can be seen. Hence the research question is: how can earth as a building material contribute to future Danish architecture? The results point out possible future developments in earthen architecture in Denmark. The methodologies used are both theoretically and practically based and take their departure in the pre-industrial heritage: experience based knowledge of the building resources are extracted by reading the narrative sources and analyzing building techniques through reviewing historic reports, visiting existing cases and studying the applied materials and techniques.