earth HUB
The earth HUB at the University of Liechtenstein is the competence centre for climate-friendly building with clay and timber. It brings together regional expertise and European innovation to advance sustainable building materials and construction methods.
The focus is on research, development and practice: the earth HUB connects actors from architecture, business, politics and society in order to highlight and further develop the potential of clay and timber as ecological building materials. This method of construction is low in CO₂, fire-resistant and circular, thereby contributing to climate goals.
News
As part of the forum in February 2025, university lecturer Martin Mackowitz presented the earth HUB. The 14th edition of the conference was held under the overarching theme “Stratégie Climat 2050” and showcased innovative solutions for timber construction and sustainable building.
On 11 October 2024, the Liechtenstein School of Architecture (LSA) hosted the first earth HUB Symposium. The event brought together representatives from architecture, research, and the regional economy.
Shortly after completing their architecture studies, Isha and Daniel Haselsberger founded the non-profit organisation Arch Aid to build a bridge between their cultural backgrounds—Switzerland and India—and to apply their expertise to the realisation of sustainable buildings for disadvantaged communities in India.
Anna Heringer is an architect and a pioneer of contemporary earthen construction. She has been working as an external lecturer at the University of Liechtenstein for several years and has now been appointed Practice Professor.
In June 2025, a team from the earth HUB was represented at the Sustainable Built Environment Conference at ETH Zurich with two contributions: “From Point to Wave: Upscaling Earth Building” and “Empowering Changemakers: Lessons from a Transdisciplinary Educational Format”.
Martin Rauch has been regarded as a pioneer of earthen construction for decades. He has received numerous awards for his work and research. Since 2015, Rauch has been teaching and mentoring architecture students at the University of Liechtenstein. In June 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University during the Dies Academicus.
Building Transition
The earth HUB sees itself as a driver of the “building transition” in the region, in the four-country area and beyond in Europe. Through symposia, research projects and collaborations, insights from science are transferred into practice.
Hortus site
A flagship project that exemplifies the approach of the earth HUB is the HORTUS site in Basel. Developed by Herzog & de Meuron together with Martin Rauch, Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH and Blumer Lehmann, it relies on rammed-earth timber ceilings made from regional excavation material and, as a zero-energy building, sets new standards. The connection to the University of Liechtenstein was established through Martin Mackowitz, who works both for Lehm Ton Erde and as a lecturer at the LSA. The project vividly demonstrates how local knowledge, innovative technology and sustainable thinking come together.
The earth HUB brings together what is crucial for the future of building: regional knowledge, innovative technology and responsibility for nature. It creates a platform that demonstrates how clay and timber can be transformed into modern, climate-friendly architecture."
