STEG Soil to Surface

Study programme: M.Sc. Architecture
Module: Stegreif (1,5CP)
Semester: winter 25/26
Teachers: Hannah Herrmann, guests
Participants: 30 persons
Registration: via RWTHonline

This two-day elective takes place on the participatory construction site of the Alwakan Project in Brussels and introduces students to ecological finishing techniques through direct application. The focus is on learning to work with clay plaster, a natural and circular material increasingly used in regenerative construction.

 

The workshop combines theory and hands-on practice:

 

  • Introduction and context: an overview of the properties, potentials, and ecological value of clay plasters and paints.
  • Practical application: guided exercises on site, where students learn how to prepare, mix, and apply clay plaster in different situations—both as an undercoat and as a textured finish.

Unique to this elective is its collaborative setting. Alongside students, the inhabitants of the Alwakan Project will participate in the workshop as part of their process of renovating their own building in a participatory, self-reliant way. This shared learning environment creates an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between users and built structures: How can construction empower communities? How can learning to care for materials and finishes strengthen the sense of ownership and responsibility for shared spaces?

 

Through this dual focus on technical skills and cultural reflection, the elective invites students to explore both the practical craft of clay plastering and the emancipatory potential of building together.

 

References:

STEG Soil to Surface

Study programme: M.Sc. Architecture
Module: Stegreif (1,5CP)
Semester: winter 25/26
Teachers: Hannah Herrmann, guests
Participants: 30 persons
Registration: via RWTHonline

This two-day elective takes place on the participatory construction site of the Alwakan Project in Brussels and introduces students to ecological finishing techniques through direct application. The focus is on learning to work with clay plaster, a natural and circular material increasingly used in regenerative construction.

 

The workshop combines theory and hands-on practice:

 

  • Introduction and context: an overview of the properties, potentials, and ecological value of clay plasters and paints.
  • Practical application: guided exercises on site, where students learn how to prepare, mix, and apply clay plaster in different situations—both as an undercoat and as a textured finish.

Unique to this elective is its collaborative setting. Alongside students, the inhabitants of the Alwakan Project will participate in the workshop as part of their process of renovating their own building in a participatory, self-reliant way. This shared learning environment creates an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between users and built structures: How can construction empower communities? How can learning to care for materials and finishes strengthen the sense of ownership and responsibility for shared spaces?

 

Through this dual focus on technical skills and cultural reflection, the elective invites students to explore both the practical craft of clay plastering and the emancipatory potential of building together.

 

References: