Timber x Earth – Hourdis Floor Plate

Going beyond the application in vertical masonry, floor plates offer a high potential for expanding the use of earth blocks. The Sediments Project developed a timber beam structure, filled-in with hourdis-like earth blocks, and completed with a rigid timber board on top in a fully nature-based floor plate solution.

On the component level, floor plates are one of the most carbon intensive building elements with a disproportionally high global warming potential (GWP) compared to their built volume. The challenge they pose to engineers and architects is the high mass needed to ensure acoustic comfort while spanning long distances.
A prelude to the Holz-Lehm-Hybrid project, B&O Bau Berlin and Bauhaus Earth co-developed a timber-earth floor plate based on the application of large-scale earth blocks as a carbon negative alternative. The proposed system fully substitutes hydraulically bound materials and maximises the effectiveness of the use of timber. Besides designing, prototyping and testing the building solution, the researchers also investigated the process of industrially scaling the production of the developed earth blocks. Through the collaboration with a brick factory, the researchers were able to produce the product at a competitive price point and inspired the collaborators to bring the product to the market.

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