On the outskirts of Cologne, in Engelskirchen, stands the EcoLut-Center,<\/strong> 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The project, driven by J\u00f6rg Deselaers and designed by Mekus und Bramlage Architekten,<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The EcoLut-Center incorporates a wall climate-control system with ClayTec clay elements.<\/strong> 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong> and turns the wall into a sculptural piece of the architecture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\nArchitecture with local roots <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Innovation and comfort: heating and cooling in clay walls <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rammed earth as the protagonist <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Technical and aesthetic benefits of ClayTec clay <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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