Focus - Geo & Bio

Geo-sourced materials consist of mineral raw materials found naturally in the ground, such as sand, clay and stone. In the past, these locally extracted substances were the main building materials. Today too, soil excavated from Brussels building sites can be recovered and used as a construction material. 

Bio-based materials are building materials derived from renewable biological resources. These raw materials can be cultivated and harvested in a short time; they grow continuously and are naturally abundant. Examples include wood, straw, grass, hemp and algae. These bio-based materials offer us endlessly regrowing resources, that are usually light materials and therefor with, among others, insulating qualities.

On this workshop, we will zoom in on both groups of materials, and the combination of both. Which type of materials add inertia, thermal insulation or hygroscopic capacities?

Monday we will meet in Floreffe, at the atelier of Paille-Tech (Paille-Tech scrl, Rue de la Glacerie, Floreffe).
Paille-tech produces prefabricated wall elements that combine wood, straw and earth. 
We will take the chance to see the production chain and final building solutions.
We will end the day at Gramitherm, where grass waste gets transformed into insulation panels.
(Closer to date, we will organise carpooling, to avoid too much personal transport)

Friday takes place in the production hall of BC materials, Brussels. We create samples of building materials; combining earth and fibres. The aim is to test building solutions together, in a hands-on way. We will use the expertise that BC gained through real-scale projects, using hemp-lime, straw, acoustic plaster,.. or R&D projects such as the valorisation of hop waste or Japanese knotweed.

Each semester we offer one specific focus workshop. Such workshops aims to go deeper into relevant topics 

For more information e-mail to join@bcmaterials.org