This changed when a couple named Trudel and Hermann-Josef Scheidtweiler approached the Swiss star architect, Peter Zumthor, in the mid-2000s with the desire to build a chapel on their field at Wachendorf in the Eifel region. During this period, virtually no construction work was carried out with rammed concrete. Then came reinforced concrete which marginalized the rammed compound material with tremendous compressive strength but poor tensile strength for about 100 years. In addition to buildings, foundations and bridges, in particular, were built from rammed concrete up to the beginning of the 20th century.

Revival of a forgotten material: Thanks to Zumthor! Before the next layer can be applied, the first must harden for about a day and then it is roughened, cleaned and moistened. In this method, a stiff, earthy, moist mixture of natural stones and cement is placed into form at a thickness of a maximum of 15 to 25 centimeters and rammed for so long until the surface is closed and a moisture film appears on it. This technique was developed in 1820 by Francois Martin Lebrun to become rammed concrete. The origin of the technology for producing rammed concrete is in the pisé process, in which clay was rammed onto walls, developed at the beginning of the 17th century in France. Since then it is again in demand when a particular aesthetic charm is required. After almost a whole century of disregard, an iconic building made people aware of its properties once more. Quite rightly, but still a bit in the wrong, because, although rammed concrete has many disadvantages compared to its well-proven reinforced successor, it also has certain properties that make it stand out and make it interesting for certain projects. Rammed concrete also suffered this cruel fate once reinforced concrete was invented. As soon as something better, more powerful is invented, progress ruthlessly replaces traditional technologies in the twinkling of an eye.

Formation allplan 2020