Wildfarm Guided Visit

Discover a house made entirely of earth!

On Sunday 24 August, from 12h to 13h, Living Lab Leemsteen invite you to explore the Wildfarm project: a contemporary farmhouse built almost entirely from earth. Ken from BC materials will guide you through the fascinating process behind this innovative building, sharing insights into the materials used and construction techniques employed.

Wildfarm is a living experiment in circular, regenerative architecture, located within the permaculture and food forestry farm of Le Monde des Mille Couleurs. Designed by TOOP architectuur, this freestanding farmhouse features load-bearing masonry walls made from moulded earth blocks and earth mortar, all of which is sourced locally from soils excavated on site and in the surrounding area. These walls are either left visible or finished with natural earth plaster, creating healthy, beautiful and sustainable living spaces.

What makes Wildfarm exceptional is its pioneering use of earth materials that have been developed and tested according to the latest European standards (DIN 18945, DIN 18946 and DIN 18940). This is the first project outside Germany to have load-bearing earth block masonry walls calculated according to these innovative standards, marking a significant step in modern earth construction.

The earth blocks were produced in collaboration with the Vande Moortel brick factory using a process of milling, mixing, moulding, and drying, while the earth mortar was prepared on site with local clay, loam, and sand. This hyperlocal approach to materials ensures that the building is deeply connected to its landscape and can return to the land at the end of its lifecycle, embodying true circularity.

This tour takes place within the Soilmates event. You are welcome to stay after the visit to eat or drink and enjoy the rest of the Soilmates event, with a closing performance at 15h by Wim Opbrouck.

This event is free and open to all. To attend, simply sign up. We foresee 15 places.