GROND STUDIO: Revolutionizing Design with Raw Earth
Founded by Belgian craftsman Pieter Van Bruyssel in 2020, Grond Studio is a workshop that transforms raw earth into unique surfaces, furniture, and design objects. Through experimentation and collaborations with architects, artists, designers, and scientists, the studio reinterprets ancient construction techniques with new material knowledge and the pursuit of contemporary aesthetics. (Cover image Jam Hotel, ph. Pieter Van Bruyssel)
The ecological aspects of raw earth are remarkable: producing 1 ton of cement emits 620 kg of CO2, while 1 ton of raw earth only emits 20 kg. The material is energy-efficient, renewable, and abundant.
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The Use of Raw Earth
Historically, the first signs of using raw earth for construction date back 10,000 years, but in the last 150 years, the use of this material in the Western world has been completely replaced by cement, concrete, fired bricks, and other energy-intensive solutions. Recently, even in other parts of the world, alternatives to raw earth are being adopted due to the perception that it is a primitive and traditional material that cannot meet contemporary building standards. This trend has erased much of the architectural and technical knowledge on how to build with this material.
However, in the past two years, there has been a rise in raw earth projects and increased interest from architects, engineers, academics, and artisans, thanks in part to the focus on low-impact materials.
Grond Studio’s Method
The use of raw earth goes beyond the material itself: the way of designing, traditional construction methods, local resources, and even the geography and cultural context of a particular place require a specific architectural practice. For Grond Studio, the use of raw earth is embedded in vernacular architecture, which takes into account the local context and cultural aspects. This approach guides every project and represents a perspective close to today’s needs. For example, working with raw earth requires a lot of labor, thus involving teams of local craftsmen and workers. This means that a significant portion of a project’s cost goes to people rather than machinery owners, promoting artisanal work and the development of experience and know-how.
The range of technical and architectural possibilities of raw earth is extremely broad and varied. CRAterre – the International Center for Earth Construction – summarizes 12 working techniques that Grond has rediscovered, learned, and applied in both architecture and design over the years.
Through interior projects, furniture, and unique pieces, Grond Studio aims to bring the use of raw earth back into the collective memory, highlighting a material that not only possesses a natural aesthetic but also tells a story about how we build and design. For more details and to discover all of Grond Studio’s projects, visit the website and follow the Instagram page!
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