Shortly before completion of the HOLZ ZIEGEL LEHM project in Berlin-Britz, staff from ZRS Architekten Ingenieure and Bruno Fioretti Marquez toured the project together. The first tenants will move in at the beginning of August.

 Commissioned by STADT UND LAND Wohnbauten-Gesellschaft, the project comprises two identical apartment buildings with a total of 36 rental units, one built in timber and earth construction, the other in brick and earth. Scientifically monitored by TU Berlin, TU Braunschweig and the University of Stuttgart, the project compares both construction systems under identical conditions.

 The life cycle assessment shows: the timber building saves 42 percent of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional housing construction, the brick building 40 percent. At around 22 to 23 square metres of living space per person, both buildings fall well below the German average of 49 square metres. Neither building relies on mechanical ventilation or air conditioning, and both follow a circular design approach.

Photo: ZRS Architekten Ingenieure