AVA Augsburg

Architekturwerkstatt 22 designed the structure using clay bricks with a compressive strength class of 5. With a bulk density class of 1.6, these bricks can support structural loads starting at a thickness of just 175 millimeters. In the AVA building specifically, the load-bearing walls are 360 millimeters thick, while the non-load-bearing walls measure 240 millimeters. Because these bricks conform to standard sizes, they can be efficiently laid using a thin-bed clay mortar applied at a thickness of only one to two millimeters. The joints harden purely through natural evaporation, which means the masonry remains permanently water-soluble.

To protect the structural components from rising damp, a base course of traditional fired bricks is installed directly on the floor slab. The facade is finished with a mechanically fastened, breathable external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) made of wood wool and soft wood fiber. By entirely avoiding chemical adhesives in the wall construction, all clay elements can be cleanly separated by material type at the end of the building's lifecycle and returned to the production loop without any loss of quality.

For the upper connection to the timber ceilings, the planners devised a flexible solution using a fired U-shaped brick shell combined with specific mortar leveling layers. This design safely accommodates any potential shifting or settling of the wooden ceiling structure.

Text: ZAB | Source: GIMA Girnghuber GmbH