\u2018Our goal is to bring earthen construction from a niche to a growing market,\u2019 says Coeckelberghs. He likens this challenge to playing chess on multiple fronts, creating demand while simultaneously supplying the market. While acknowledging the aesthetic appeal of rammed earth, Nicolas cautions that it is technically complex and unaffordable at scale.<\/p>\n
In this episode, Nicolas describes BC Architects\u2019 15-year trajectory from its first earth building in Burundi, to the proliferation of collaborative workshops which led to a strand of consultancy work, to the creation of cooperative BC Materials in 2018. This led in turn to the recent launch of L\u00e9\u00e9m, a manufacturing company that produces circular materials: unfired bricks, and clay plasters and paints.<\/p>\n
While Nicolas is an innovator, he is also pragmatic and advocates focusing on easy wins. \u2018Don\u2019t use earth to make fa\u00e7ades; just use it to make structures inside,\u2019 he says. He sees enormous scope for application of earth blocks internally, where they are protected from the weather, and hence last longer.<\/p>\n
In search of a way to scale the earth blocks production, BC Materials visited concrete and brick manufacturers across Belgium to understand their manufacturing techniques and explore possibilities for collaboration. Partnerships with large manufacturers are now under way, and BC Materials produces its blocks through\u00a0 <\/span>\u2018industrial co-working\u2019,\u00a0 <\/span>using the larger plants\u2019 production lines during their \u2018off\u2019 hours.<\/p>\n To catch up on all episodes of AJ Climate Champions, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find Climate Champions on your favourite podcast app: subscribe via Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Deezer<\/a>\u00a0and Podbean<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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