bettina, Autor bei LEHMIT

The 1:1 TES demonstrator © Chair of Digital Fabrication | Technical University of Munich

19. February 2026

Research Project Timber Earth Slab (TES) with the Technical University of Munich (TUM)

At the Technical University of Munich, the research project Timber Earth Slab (TES) investigated how mineral-bound earth material (with a binder from Oxara) and timber can be combined into a high-performance, resource-efficient floor system. This innovative construction system integrates the structural advantages of timber with the building-physics properties of mineral-bound earth material. Through the targeted interaction of these two materials, a unified and resource-efficient floor system for multi-storey timber construction is created.

We develop building systems from earth and timber to combine the strengths of both materials in the best possible way. ©Lehmit

8. September 2025

Brochure Building Systems in Earth and Timber

With the new Lehmit Compendium, we provide a compact resource that brings together our knowledge and experience in building with earth and timber – ready to print or share. The brochure highlights the advantages of this hybrid approach, ranging from acoustic performance and indoor climate to fire safety and circular construction with minimal embodied energy. It presents innovative ceiling, interior wall and exterior wall systems, as well as the entire project process from planning through to realization. The handbook is aimed at architects, clients and companies seeking sustainable, resource-efficient and technically advanced solutions in earth-and-timber construction for their projects.

Sectional perspective of the exterior wall assembly of the auditorium ©Lehm Ton Erde

19. July 2025

Innovation with Depth: The multilayered rammed earth wall of the Walkeweg Auditorium, Basel

Specialised planning for Aequipe by Lehm Ton Erde and Lehmit With the new construction of the Walkeweg School auditorium in Basel, an innovative wall concept will soon be realized, based on the combination of timber and rammed earth: industrially prefabricated, structurally sophisticated, and architecturally expressive. The wall system, developed by Lehm Ton Erde, Lehmit, and Aequipe, stands as an exemplar of a new generation of resource-efficient, reversible, and aesthetically refined building envelopes made of earth and timber.

The Scandinavian timber construction and architecture community gathers each year at the Oslo Timber Construction Days.

15. June 2025

Lehmit Presents in Oslo

At the Oslo International Timber Conference 2025, Bettina Baggenstos gave a presentation on Hortus and Lehmit, sharing our experiences and ideas to inspire the Scandinavian market. The presentation was recorded and broadcast, and is now available to watch here:

Through the windows of the newly planted courtyard at Hortus, the timber–earth ceilings are visible. ©Maris Mezulis, Herzog & de Meuron

23. May 2025

Hortus: Big-scale Earth and Timber

The Hortus project is more than just a building: it is proof that sustainable materials such as timber and earth can perform at scale. It was designed by Herzog & de Meuron and zpf and developed by Senn. Traditional building methods inspired low-carbon assemblies, regional resources were utilized, and a proposal for future-oriented construction was created. Yet sustainability means more than materials alone: it requires collaboration, innovation, and the courage to explore new paths together, as demonstrated by Hortus and the whole team involved.

21. May 2025

Why building in Earth and Timber?

Earth and timber are among the world’s oldest building materials and have proven their value over centuries. With modern manufacturing techniques and prefabrication, these traditional materials can now be applied efficiently in demanding, contemporary architectural projects. Earth in combination with timber enables the construction of buildings with extremely low embodied energy, while offering an authentic and distinctive aesthetic.