durchzug

In conventional earthen building, the material-specific composition of clay is primarily guided by stability issues. In contrast, “durchzug” focuses on the air humidity-regulating and purifying functions of clay. Clay minerals, which are part of the material, control the exchange of air humidity. The project explores the optimal mixing ratio of special minerals, sand and gravel. The designs show forms of surface enlargement to exploit this potential. They are intended to be installed indoors to bring these important health benefits to buildings that are not made of clay.

Four different clay minerals were tested for their absorbing capacities. The results showed that there are huge differences. Montmorillonite and bentonite showed the highest amount and the fastest absorption of water. Based on this, it is now possible to calculate how much material is needed for a given space to achieve a steady balance of air humidity at around 50%.