Gradientenlehm

Gradientenlehm investigates how digital technologies can enable robotically prefabricated functionally graded hybrid earth slabs with integrated natural fibre reinforcement and sustainable aggregates. By grading earth composition, fibre content and additives across the slab, the project aims to activate earthen slabs structurally and functionally, tailoring local stiffness, weight and functional behaviour to structural demands instead of treating earth as dead load only with no significant structural capacity.

 

Within the project, the team at DDF develops a hybrid reinforced earth material system, integrative digital design tools for spatially varying material distributions, and an additive robotic prefabrication process that links computational design directly to fabrication. The work includes material investigations, the development of design and fabrication workflows, architectural and construction detailing for slab systems, and the realisation of a first full‑scale graded slab demonstrator.

 

Gradientenlehm is funded as part of the ideas competition “Forschung für nachhaltiges Bauen” (Research for Sustainable Construction) by the Klimaschutzstiftung Baden-Württemberg.