CIRCULAR

DESIGN
ATLAS

Haus Rauch | Rauch Residential House

Architect(s):
Scales:
Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH,
Boltshauser archirecten Buildings

Year:
Resources:
2005 - 2008
Energy
Location:
Schlins, Austria Design Approaches:
Design for Longevity
More info: Regenerative Design
https://boltshauser.info/projekt/
haus-rauch/ R-Strategies:
Credits | Design: Roger Bolthauser, Martin Rauch| Photo: © Beat Bühler
https://www.erden.at/Haus-Rauch Reduce
lehmtonerde.at, erden.at Recycle

Aspects:
-
This residential building in Schlins, Austria, designed by Martin Rauch of
Lehm Ton Erde, utilizes the excavated earth from its own construction site.
The structure is composed of solid rammed earth walls, which serve as
both the building’s framework and exterior. Moreover, the rammed earth
walls can be complete be broken down by just mixing it with water and
returning it to the ground.
The project embodies the principle of geobased local mining, employing
locally sourced earth for its construction.

One significant benefit of rammed earth walls is their thermal mass, which
acts as a natural heat buffer. During the day, they absorb heat and release
it during cooler nights, helping to stabilize temperature fluctuations and
passively reduce energy consumption. Additionally, these walls can store
moisture, creating comfortable indoor environments with ideal air quality
and humidity levels around 55%.
 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

Layers of Change and that the lifespan of a freestanding would need replacement sooner Space Plan
unstabilized rammed earth wall of rather than later. In the case of
Lifecycle Duration 450 mm thickness, with minimal Haus Rauch, the insulation is on Haus Rauch is not a very large
protection from natural climatic the inside of the 45 cm rammed building, and limited walls can
conditions in a temperate climate, earth wall, making it relatively be moved due to their structural
Site is between 37 and 75 years before easy to replace during renovation nature, which does not provide
repairs are required to preserve without disturbing the structural great flexibility. However, the
The site is in Schlins, Austria, structural integrity. layer. floors are relatively flexible. The
on a slope. The most important most important element of the
material on the site is earth, as it is In the case of Haus Rauch, Services floor, and therefore also the most
excavated from the site to be used the rammed earth walls are important “material” of the shearing
for the structure and the skin as not freestanding and are only Haus Rauch is an almost layer, is the “Dippelbaumdecke”—
unstabilized rammed earth. If this exposed to the climate on one completely passive house. The shaved tree trunks. The type of
rammed earth is broken down and side. The clay bricks in the facade thick rammed earth walls regulate wood is not specified, so its life
mixed with water, it can return to protect the walls from erosion by temperature and humidity. Roof expectancy cannot be determined.
the site as the earth it was before slowing down the flow of water collectors and the storage stove It is mentioned, however, that
(Haus Rauch, n.d., I. 5). It can when it rains (AR Editors, 2020). in the kitchen heat water in the these tree trunks are locally
therefore be concluded that the However, there are historical buffer storage tank (Boltshauser sourced (Boltshauser Architekten,
lifespan of the material earth is examples that provide evidence Architekten, 2022b), which is 2022b), and since the surrounding
eternal, which works in favor of the that unstabilized rammed earth, used for wall heating. If these two area has deciduous trees, it can
shearing layer, allowing the site to when adequately protected, can sources do not supply enough be inferred that the wood is in
continue to exist. last nearly indefinitely (Umubyeyi energy, a secondary pellet heating durability class 2, corresponding to
et al., 2023). One example is the system is available. a life expectancy of 15 to 40 years.
Skin & Structure rammed earth wall of the Horyuji This works in favor of the shearing
Temple, which has been standing Regarding the most important layer because the demountable
The 45-centimeter rammed earth for an estimated 1,300 years (Bui “material” of this shearing layer, floor trunks could be reused.
wall functions as both the structure et al., 2009). one could argue that it is the roof
and the skin (Haus Rauch, n.d., l. collector, as it is one of the primary Stuff
3), making rammed earth the most In terms of structure, this energy suppliers. According to
important material for this shearing potentially long life expectancy Solvari and Solvari (2020), the Furniture and “stuff” tend to have
layer. None of the rammed of the material benefits the lifespan of a roof collector is 20 a longer life expectancy than
earth walls were stabilized or shearing layer, as it creates a to 25 years (Yanovshtchinsky et how long they are used, and will
treated with a surface treatment durable structure. However, in the al, 2012).This is longer than the therefore always work against the
(Boltshauser Architekten, 2022b), case of the skin, such a long life lifecycle duration that Duffy and shearing layer of “stuff.”
and they are fully recyclable expectancy could work against Brand attributed to this shearing
(Haus Rauch, n.d., I. 5). Although the shearing layer, as it might layer. This is beneficial to the
rammed earth has been a building need replacement sooner to meet layer because the performance of
technique since ancient times, it performance requirements. the heating system depends on
lost popularity in the last centuries, it. Moreover, the location of the
and little has been built with the Haus Rauch differs from Frank shearing layer on the roof allows
material in modern times. This Duffy’s model since the structural for replacement without disturbing
has made it difficult to scientifically shearing layer is not on the inside the other layers.
determine the material’s expected of the skin layer. In Duffy’s model,
lifespan. Recent studies by the skin layer protects the structure
Umubyeyi et al. (2023) estimate and provides insulation, which
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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

Site Skin
Eternal ± 20 years
Earth Rammed earth

Structure Services
30-300 years 7-15 years
Rammed earth Roof collectors

Space plan Stuff

3-30 years Various
Dippelbaumdecke

Credits | Design: Roger Bolthauser, Martin Rauch| Photo: © Beat Bühler Credits | Rauch House: BOLTSHAUSER ARCHITEKTEN | Photo: © Beat Bühler
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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

R-Strategies has been made to minimize typically, an exterior sealer would reused in their original functions.
environmental impact by utilizing need reapplication every ten to An advantage of rammed earth is
locally sourced, biological twenty years. However, in the its infinite reusability, provided no
materials. Both the rammed earth case of Haus Rauch, no sealer stabilizers like cement or lime were
and clay bricks are made from clay is needed because the architect used during production. Without
The facade of Haus Rauch has extracted directly from the building incorporated layers of bricks to chemical binding agents, the
very high circular potential. site, significantly reducing the need act as erosion brakes, slowing material can be broken down with
for material transportation and the flow of water over the façade water and reused as rammed earth
SMARTER USE & minimizing waste removal after (Bolthauser Architekten, n.d.). or returned to the site, blending
construction (Frugalitecreative, Over time, the surface may back into nature (Chalmers, 2024).
MANUFACTURING:
n.d.). Additionally, a layer of become rougher, but this will The bricks can also be removed
Refuse
reeds is used for insulation within not compromise its structural and reused, while the reed panels’
The materials used in this 1m²
the walls, replacing synthetic integrity, making repairs largely reusability depends on how the
façade section are minimal,
alternatives and further lowering unnecessary (Regio TV Bodensee, clay plaster finish was applied—if
comprising 450mm of rammed
the environmental footprint 2019). The only element that may applied directly to the panels, they
earth paired with clay bricks for
(Frugalitecreative, n.d.). require occasional attention is the may be damaged during removal.
weather resistance, reeds as an
interior clay plaster finish, which The only materials unsuitable for
insulation layer, and a 30mm layer
EXTENDING LIFESPAN OF could need minor repairs but is remanufacturing are the ring beam
of clay plaster with integrated wall
PRODUCT AND ITS PARTS: easily accessible. and the clay plaster finish.
heating. Given the simplicity of
Reuse
the construction, it’s challenging
Two materials in the façade can Refurbish Repurpose
to reduce the material further.
be reused elsewhere without The façade of Haus Rauch Several parts of the façade
However, to radically minimize
requiring major modifications. seems well-prepared for future could have a second life in a
material usage, the reed insulation
The bricks can be easily removed regulations. With 45cm of rammed different function. As mentioned
layer could be left uncovered
and repurposed in other facades earth, the walls are structurally under ‘reuse’ the bricks can be
by the clay plaster, making the
or used as paving, while the sound, making stricter safety reinstalled in many different parts
insulation more vulnerable to
reeds can be reused as insulation rules unlikely to require stronger of a building, but they could also
damage and expose the heating
or even as roofing for another construction. However, insulation be crushed and become part of a
system. Alternatively, the heating
building. However, both materials might need upgrading. While thick cement or concrete construction.
system could be incorporated into
are integral to the façade’s function rammed earth and reeds create The reeds that are currently used
the insulation layer.
and cannot be repurposed until comfort, tighter energy regulations as insulation could be reused to
the building is demolished. Their could require refurbishment. thatch roofs, depending on their
Rethink potential for reuse has had minimal Accessing insulation is difficult length.
Haus Rauch is rigid in design; the influence on their dimensions or since reeds are behind clay
static rammed earth construction appearance. Bricks, with their plaster, which would need removal. END OF LIFE SCENARIO:
prevents components from being standardized sizes, are already Alternatively, an external layer of Recycle
shared or used more intensively. widely used, and the reeds were reeds could be added, but this As noted under ‘remanufacture,’
Each material serves a specific likely chosen primarily for their would push the heating system rammed earth can be
function within the building, eco-friendliness as a natural deeper into the wall, reducing disassembled and reassembled
meaning that they will need to alternative to synthetic insulation. efficiency and affecting energy without compromising its structural
remain in place until the structure performance. integrity, maintaining the same
is eventually dismantled. Repair quality as the original material.
Repairs to the façade are almost Remanufacture
Reduce unnecessary. Rammed earth Nearly all materials in the façade
In this design, considerable effort is inherently low-maintenance; can be remanufactured and
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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

The NEW Nexus buffer, saving tremendous energy on

artificial heating and ventilation.
The building utilities water to capture
and distribute heat energy. The roof
collectors capturing the energy of
The Rauch House has some the sun in a buffer tank, which is also
exceptional qualities regarding to catching the waste heat of the storage
circularity and the NEW nexus. stove used in the kitchen. The warm
First of all, 85% of the building water then gives the heat to the wall
materials (earth) are excavated on structures when it is needed. If these
site and used in various forms with elements do not fulfill the required
different techniques. The solid wood energy a pellet heating system can
logs used for the ceilings are also back up the off-grid heating.
made of locally sourced timber. These
methods are enabled to save about There was no information about any
50% of grey energy compared to methods to capture the released
conventional solid constructions. nutrients in the building, but through
the smart material choices and
The density and the thick layers heating system, a huge amount of
of rammed earth walls makes the energy saved on construction and
structure an excellent heat and moist operation.

Credits | Rauch House: BOLTSHAUSER ARCHITEKTEN Credits | Rauch House: BOLTSHAUSER ARCHITEKTEN | Photo: © Beat Bühler
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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

Stakeholders & Value Circular design asks for the

Chain possibility of changing the space
plan of a building so it can
accommodate new uses. This
could mean the architect could
The role of the architect will stay linked to the project or it
certainly change in the building’s needs to educate builders or the
development process with the shift property owner how this is done.
from linear business models to
circular value models. And lastly, a plan needs to be
thought through and agreements
Firstly, an Architect needs to start be made in case of the dismantling
using materials and elements in of the building; what will happen
their design which are either fully to the materials and elements and
recyclable or dismountable and how will this happen so it can enter
able to be reused. They also have a new life in a building somewhere
to look first at what is already there else.
and able to be reused.
How this change of process
There is a challenge with getting changes for this particular project
all stakeholders on board with this is interesting as well. In the case
new strategy. The architect needs of Haus Rauch, the client was both
to start working with manufacturers an expert in the field of rammed
and suppliers that can offer earth as the engineer, the end user
reusable elements and are willing and a builder. Martin Rauch was
to take them back and offer up for involved with a great part of the
reusement once they are no longer building process and maybe that
needed in a building. It raises is how things will be in the future
the question how the costs of the too. All the distinct roles that now
materials are going to change exist in the linear building process
since the plan is to have multiple model may become more fluid as
users over time. the model transits into the circular.

Based on a diagram by the CBE Hub, BK TU Delft

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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

Lessons Learned

We can state that Rauch House is

a really special architectural piece
from several point of view.

It is exceptionally circular as
it is made out of 85% of earth
excavated on site, while almost all
materials are natural and locally
sourced. The majority of earth
qualities are reusable or could
just be left on site after demolition
as they only contain natural
ingredients.

The structure, skin layer and

site are almost identical and last
technically forever. The technical
solutions are smart and saving a
huge amount of energy as using
renewable and waste energy
sources.

The wall and ceiling structure

of the building are net carbon
negative as using local materials
and plant based layers.
The design approach of the
building is unique, but also make
us remember to the historical times
when building was lead by local
materials and circular methods,
and geometry and special
connections was derived from
these core principles.

Credits | Rauch House: BOLTSHAUSER ARCHITEKTEN | Photo: © Beat Bühler

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 Circular Design Atlas | BK TU Delft Rauch Residential House

Bui, Q., Morel, J., Reddy, B. V., & Ghayad, W. (2008). Durability of rammed earth walls
exposed for 20 years to natural weathering. Building and Environment, 44(5), 912–919. https://
Colophon doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.07.001

Chalmers, J. (2024, July 30). What role does rammed earth play in the future of low-carbon
construction? - create digital. Create Digital. https://createdigital.org.au/rammed-earth-low-
carbon-construction/#:~:text=If%20unstabilised%20%E2%80%93%20that%20is%2C%20
not,earth%20renaissance%20have%20used%20stabilisers.

Haus Rauch. (z.d.). TU Delft. https://www.tudelft.nl/bk/circular-design-atlas/haus-rauch

Maison Rauch | frugalitecreative.eu. (n.d.). FRUGALITÉ CREATIVE | WENIGER IST GENUG.
https://frugalitecreative.eu/batiments/maison-rauch/
Material | Loam Clay Earth, Martin Rauch, Vorarlberg. (n.d.). https://www.lehmtonerde.at/en/
earth/earth.php?aID=48

Sauer, M. (2020, August 20). Retrospective: Martin Rauch - The Architectural Review. The
Student(s): Studio: Architectural Review. https://www.architectural-review.com/buildings/earth/retrospective-
Anna Krikke Form, Structure and Aesthetics martin-rauch
April Li Tutor(s):
Beate Verbeek Veerle de Vries & Matthijs Klooster Silva-Afonso, A., & Pimentel-Rodrigues, C. (2024). Water–Energy–Nutrients nexus of urban
Bertalan Ivan environments. Water, 16(6), 904. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16060904

Solvari, & Solvari. (2020, 5 oktober). Levensduur zonneboiler. Zonneboiler-advies.nl. https://

www.zonneboiler-advies.nl/levensduur-zonneboiler

References: Umubyeyi, C., Wenger, K., Dahmen, J., & Ochsendorf, J. (2023). Durability of unstabilized
rammed earth in temperate climates: A long term study. Construction And Building Materials,
Architekten, B. (2010a, August 9). Rammed earth house, Rauch family home. Architonic. 409, 133953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133953
https://www.architonic.com/en/project/boltshauser-architekten-rammed-earth-house-rauch-
family-home/5100620

Architekten, B. (2010b, August 9). Rammed earth house, Rauch family home. Architonic.
https://www.architonic.com/fr/project/boltshauser-architekten-rammed-earth-house-rauch-
family-home/5100620

AR Editors. (2020, 27 juli). Rauch House in Austria by Roger Boltshauser with Martin Rauch
- The Architectural Review. The Architectural Review. https://www.architectural-review.com/
buildings/earth/rauch-house-in-austria-by-roger-boltshauser-with-martin-rauch Disclaimer

BAUEN UND WOHNEN. (2019, March 22). So lebt es sich im Lehmhaus Haus aus Lehm The Circular Design Atlas is an online open-source database intended for educational
– Alter Baustoff, neu entdeckt: Hausbau [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/ purposes on a non-profit basis. It accommodates a series of case studies researched and
watch?v=OPUAI6hAT9Q analyzed by students across the material, component, building, as well as the neighborhood,
city and regional scale.
Boltshauser Architekten. (2022, November 3). Haus Rauch • Boltshauser Architekten AG. We have tried to be careful with third-party rights, such as intellectual property rights, on visual
Boltshauser Architekten AG. https://boltshauser.info/projekt/haus-rauch/ material we have cited in order to make these case studies possible. In the unexpected event
of incorrect source citation or indication of credits or any other complaint, please contact
[email protected].
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