Highway noise-buffering wall 1986-1987, Graz A
competition, not conducted
Constructor Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Fachabteilung IIa, Graz A
Concept Martin Rauch, Schlins A

First prize from the Austrian building department, in a competition for the design of noise withstanding walls along highways. The material accumulated in the building process of highways was thought to be used on site to construct the buffering walls. The porous and inhomogeneous surface, the high self-weight and the large spectrum of simple design possibilities predestine the Pise-technique for this application. With its material coming directly from the construction site, the earthen wall blends into its surroundings and follows certain structures and soil layers in the landscape. The ecological balance is optimal, as the primary energy and the transport efforts can be dropped and only conversion energy is needed.