Ricola Herb Center

Prefabrication with machine technology

Start with “Roberta I”

Clay as an air conditioning unit

In the midst of pastureland and functional industrial buildings, the Ricola herb center rises as a powerful, monolithic structure – designed by the renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron. The elongated building references the lines of its surroundings and at the same time reflects the processes of herb processing that take place inside.

Sustainability, functionality and materiality are combined here in a radical way – a rarity in industrial architecture. The rammed earth walls made on site are an expression of Ricola’s extraordinary ecological commitment. The material was extracted from nearby pits and quarries. Thanks to its ability to naturally regulate temperature and humidity, clay proved to be the ideal building material for this pioneering project.

Category

Trade

Architecture

Herzog & de Meuron

Time period

2012

Concept

Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH, Martin Rauch

Executiom

Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH

Location

CH, Laufen

Production type

Prefabricated production

Factory-based production, including the creation of production plans, mixing & tamping, as well as drying, packaging, & transport.

Field factory

A temporary production site set up close to the construction area, combining workshop-level quality with the flexibility of onsite manufacturing — ideally making use of locally excavated material.

Products

Wall

Walls made of 100% earth - formed & compacted on site or produced as prefabricated elements, load-bearing or self-supporting.

Impressions Building process