On the outskirts of Cologne, in Engelskirchen, stands the EcoLut-Center, a building conceived for weddings, anniversaries and corporate gatherings. Its spacious rooms, open to the landscape, combine natural light with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. In this setting, two protagonists accompany every event: local wood and ClayTec clay, a pairing that reinforces the identity of the place.
The project, driven by Jörg Deselaers and designed by Mekus und Bramlage Architekten, committed to the use of locally sourced materials. A local carpentry raised the timber structure, while the interiors were clad with dry-laid clay bricks and clay boards. The insulation was resolved with wood fibres, guaranteeing excellent energy performance.
When the sun passes through the windows, the clay-plastered walls reflect a warm light that enhances the sense of wellbeing. The choice of materials responds not only to aesthetic criteria: it also ensures healthy construction, free of chemical treatments and highly durable.
The EcoLut-Center incorporates a wall climate-control system with ClayTec clay elements. These panels include integrated water pipes, capable of providing both radiant heating in winter and passive cooling in summer. Clay functions as a natural accumulator: it absorbs heat during the day and releases it gradually, contributing to a stable, efficient indoor climate that is kind to people with allergies.
One of the most distinctive elements of the building is its two-storey rammed-earth wall, located next to the staircase. Its horizontal strata, the result of compacting the clay by hand layer by layer, create a design that is at once archaic and contemporary. Each band of colour tells a geological story and turns the wall into a sculptural piece of the architecture.
Architecture: Modern timber construction (new build)
Use: Events space (weddings, anniversaries, corporate gatherings)
Studio: Mekus und Bramlage Architekten
ClayTec materials: Rammed earth, Fine 06 clay finish plaster, Clay partition boards, Dry construction, Wood-fibre interior insulation
Location: Oberstaat 6, 51766 Engelskirchen (Germany)
The EcoLut-Center shows how clay can be the protagonist in contemporary architecture projects, bringing aesthetics, comfort and sustainability. The combination with local wood turns each space into a harmonious environment, ideal for celebrating unique moments.
At RedVerde, together with ClayTec, we work to make sustainable architecture a life experience too.
Want to discover how to integrate these materials into your project? Contact us and we’ll advise you.
