bioklas

In an old warehouse on the grounds of Fort V, part of the Antwerp fort belt, the municipality of Edegem envisioned a space where children could learn about nature and ecology. Locals know this place as the Bioklas. 

The inner layer of the exterior walls, as well as the interior walls, are structural and built with clay bricks made from locally sourced clay.

The outer layer of the exterior walls and the roof are constructed from lime hemp. This material keeps the building well-insulated and warm.

The simplicity of using just two building materials, each with a specific function, makes the structure honest, minimalist, and educational.

The film was commissioned by BC architects in order to document the three-weeks workshop during which 19,000 clay blocks were produced, and another two-weeks workshop during which 312 square meters of lime hemp were installed. In total, over 150 volunteers took part in the construction.

It then has notably been screened along BC’s work at the Venice Architecture Biennale (Italy, 2018), and at the CIVA for the The Act of Building exhibition (Belgium, 2019).