The Rauch House. A Model of Advanced Clay Architecture
Roger Boltshauser, Martin Rauch
Schlins in Vorarlberg has long been a Mecca for those interested in experimental earth building techniques. On a steep south-facing slope, clay builder Martin Rauch has built his new residential and studio building here in collaboration with architect Roger Boltshauser from Zurich. From the foundation to the flat roof, it is formed from the excavated earth extracted on site: the floors, vaulted ceilings, wall and ceiling plaster, the steps, tiles and washstands - all made from the one material clay in its various forms of processing. The house is as much a show house as it is a document of a unique collaboration. At the same time, it is an impressive example of how a spatially and tectonically adequate design can be achieved with the static and design limits of this “soft”, massive type of construction. And how an archaic building technique can be used in a contemporary way. With its ecological, building-biological and aesthetic qualities, earthen building is once again gaining in topicality, especially with today’s renewed focus on energy and ecological balances. The building presented in this book has received national and international awards and sets a milestone in this field.
