Herzog & de Meuron
Project
2010-2013
Realization
2013-2014

Architecture and Landscape

The new KrĂ€uterzentrum (herb center) is situated like an erratic block in the midst of a landscape dotted with conventional industrial buildings. Its elongated shape echoes the pathways and the hedges that have long been a distinctive feature of this area. The length of the building also reflects the steps involved in the industrial processing of herbs, from drying and cutting to blending and storing. The new processing plant enables Ricola to integrate these important steps in the company’s own in-house production.

Architecture as Landscape

The KrĂ€uterzentrum is built largely out of locally sourced earth; it is like a geometrical segment of landscape with its dimensions and archaic impact heightened by the radical choice of material. Herbs and earth define the purpose-built, distinctive character of the center, following in the footsteps of Ricola‘s other buildings: the fully automated storage building of 1987, the production and storage building of 1993 in Mulhouse-Brunstatt with its screenprint façade and the glazed marketing headquarters of 1999 in Laufen. These buildings not only embody Ricola’s exceptional philosophy and commitment to the environment, they each make a striking contribution to their locations.

The delivery entrance and warehouse sections of the herb center’s façade are monolithic, with the loam walls visible in the interior as well. The prefabricated earth elements are manufactured in a nearby factory out of ingredients extracted from local quarries and mines. Loam, marl and material excavated on site are mixed and compacted in a formwork and then layered in blocks to build the walls. Thanks to the plasticity of the loam, the seams can be retouched giving the overall structure a homogeneous appearance. To arrest erosion caused by wind and rain, a trass mortar achieved mixing volcanic tuff (trass) with lime, is compacted every 8 layers of earth directly in the formwork. Large round windows illuminate the rooms. The façade is self-supporting and simply linked to the concrete loadbearing structure of the interior.

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and sustainability are not simply treated as technical auxiliaries; they are built into the architecture and essential features of the project as a whole. Earth as a material that regulates humidity has a positive, sustainable effect on the use of energy and overall climate control. Photovoltaic modules on the roof and the use of waste heat from the production center nearby also contribute to improving the ecological balance of the KrÀuterzentrum. Visitors will be able to watch the processing and blending of the herbs in a special visitor center on the top floor.

Herzog & de Meuron, 2014

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Process

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Drawings

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Team

Partners

Facts

In Collaboration With
Rammed Earth Facade Specialist: Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst Gmbh, Schlins, Austria Martin Rauch, Thomas Honermann, Hanno Burstcher
Client
Ricola AG, Laufen, Switzerland
Planning
Design Consultant: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland
Executive Architect: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland
General Planning: Kundert Planer AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
Cost Consultant: Kundert Planer AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
General Contractor: Priora Generalunternehmung AG, Basel, Switzerland
Structural Engineering: Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG, Basel, Switzerland
Electrical Engineering: Pfister + Gloor Engineering, AG Baden-DĂ€ttwill, Switzerland
Electrical Engineering: Selmoni Ingenieur AG, Basel, Switzerland
HVAC Engineering: Cofely AG, Basel, Switzerland
HVAC Engineering: Kundert Planer AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
Engineering Design: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Plant Layout: Kundert Planer AG, Schlieren, Switzerland
Specialist / Consulting
Cost Consultant: Rapp Arcoplan AG, Basel, Switzerland
Acoustics : Martin Lienhard, Langenbruck, Switzerland
Building Physics: Zimmermann + Leuthe GmbH, Aetigkofen, Switzerland
Building Physics: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Civil Engineering: Schnetzer Puskas Ing. , Basel, Switzerland
Facade Engineering: Emmer Pfenninger Partner AG, MĂŒnchenstein, Switzerland
Facade Engineering: Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH, Schlins, Austria
Geometrician: Peter JĂ€ckle AG, Laufen, Switzerland
Geotechnical Consultant: Kiefer & Studer AG, Reinach, Switzerland
Sustainability Consultant: PE CEE GmbH, Vienna, Austria
Building Data
Site Area: 165'268 sqft, 15'354 sqm
Gross floor area (GFA): 51'666 sqft, 4'800 sqm
Number of levels: 3
Footprint: 34'638 sqft, 3'218 sqm
Length: 364 ft, 111 m
Width: 95 ft, 29 m
Height: 36 ft, 11 m
Links
www.ricola.ch

Bibliography

“Ricola KrĂ€uterzentrum.” In: Sabine Djahanschah (Ed.). “Gewerbebauten in Lehm und Holz. Mehrwert durch Material.” Munich, Detail Business Information GmbH, 2020. pp. 118-135.

“PisĂ©. Stampflehm. Tradition und Potenzial.” Edited by: Roger Boltshauser, Cyril Veillon, Nadja Maillard. Zurich, Triest, 2019.

Luis FernĂĄndez-Galiano (Ed.): “Arquitectura Viva Monografias. Herzog & de Meuron 2013-2017.” Vol. No. 191-192, Madrid, Arquitectura Viva SL, 12.2016.

“Ricola KrĂ€uterzentrum in Laufen.” In: Christian Schittich (Ed.). “Detail. Zeitschrift fĂŒr Architektur und Baudetail.” Munich, Institut fĂŒr internationale Architektur-Dokumentation GmbH & Co., 03.2015. pp. 210-222.

Adrian Meyer: “Neugieriger Respekt.” In: Verband freierwerbender Schweizer Architekten, FSAI (Ed.). “Archithese. Internationale Zeitschrift und Schriftenreihe fĂŒr Architektur.” Sulgen, Niggli, 02.2015. pp. 68-73.

“Hierba y tierra. Ricola Herb center in Laufen, Switzerland.” In: Luis FernĂĄndez-Galiano (Ed.). “Arquitectura Viva.” Vol. No. 168, Madrid, Arquitectura Viva SRL, 11.2014. pp. 22-27.

Christiane MĂŒller: “Oekologisch korrekt.” In: “Baumeister.” Munich, Georg D.W. Callwey , 08.2014. pp. 65-62.

Hubertus Adam: “Aus dem Boden gewachsen. Produktions- und LagergebĂ€ude in Laufen (CH).” In: Katja Kohlhammer (Ed.). “Deutsche Bauzeitung. Zeitschrift fĂŒr Architekten und Bauingenieure.” Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Konradin Medien GmbH, 11.2014. pp. 30-36.

Gerhard Mack: “Sieben Bauten. Seven Buildings 1983-2014. Ricola – Herzog & de Meuron.” Edited by: Ricola AG. Laufen, Ricola AG, 2014.

Location