Fetdeterra, an innovative company making earth-based products for sustainable construction

At a time when design and architecture are looking at sustainability as a must in their projects, earth products are presented as a revolutionary innovation in responsible construction. These compressed earth materials combine the ancient beauty of natural materials with cutting-edge technology, redefining what is meant by sustainable architecture.

A material with history and future projection

Earth has been used as a building material since time immemorial. However, with industrialisation, it was displaced by artificial materials with a high environmental impact. This millenary tradition is currently being recovered, adapting it to the needs of our century.

Fetdeterra products are made from compressed local earth, a renewable resource with low environmental impact. Their modular design facilitates their use in contemporary projects, while maintaining the artisanal character of this material.

Sustainability in all aspects

One of the great challenges in modern construction is to reduce the carbon footprint of materials. Earth products stand out for their low-emission production process, without the need for firing or chemical treatments. In addition, their 100% natural composition ensures that at the end of their useful life they can be reincorporated into the natural cycle without generating polluting waste.

Architectural and aesthetic advantages

The use of earth products provides a unique aesthetic that connects architectural spaces with nature. Their texture and earthy tones generate a visual and tactile effect that evokes serenity and authenticity. In addition, their high thermal capacity and moisture regulating properties make these materials an ideal choice for building healthy and energy efficient spaces. From housing to interior design projects, these materials demonstrate their versatility by adapting to different styles and needs. And, of course, always with a unique touch that sets them apart from other traditional building materials.

A promising future

Recognition of earth products has not been slow in coming. These materials have attracted the interest of design professionals, architects and environmentalists alike. Each project that incorporates them is not only an example of innovation, but also a step towards a more sustainable future.

The revolution in sustainable construction is here, and earth products are one of its key elements. A statement of intent that proves that looking to the past can be the best way to move into the future.

Fetdeterra at the service of responsible architecture

The fetdeterra team has not only conceived a product, but also created a construction system designed to be accessible and replicable. The production of the earth products can be carried out locally, promoting circular economies and minimising transport costs. In addition, their ease of use allows them to be used by both experienced architects and traditional builders.

Other projects carried out with Fetdeterra products:

Casa Neutra

Valladolid. Noro architects. Photographs: Judith Casas. Courtesy of Fetdeterra. Construction solution of the Fetdeterra earth walls with continuous vertical joint, executed with Tapialblock® 8/100/15 + Tapialblock® 40/100/15 large-format earth blocks and Fetdeterra facing mortar for the upper and lower part of the windows.

La casa de la Ruina

Architecture: Dezain architects. Photography: Pere Font. Courtesy of Fetdeterra. “For the formation of these new volumes, a bioclimatic architecture criterion was followed, using Tapialblock for the formation of the new walls. Tapialblock, manufactured by the company Fetdeterra, was used for its sustainable and ecological technical characteristics as it is a prefabricated block of compacted natural earth and is an innovative product, recyclable and manufactured with a minimal ecological footprint. In addition to its sustainable and thermal characteristics, it was chosen because it was a material that integrates completely with the exterior stone structure of the farmhouse but accentuates the enlarged volumes of the house” say the architects.

Ca S’Alou

2021. Mallorca. Architects: Munarq. Photo courtesy of Fetdeterra. Painting of the interior of the house: Fetdeterra earth paint.

Casa Terral

Promoters: Manuel Martín-Lara / Carmen Moreno. Architect: Sandra Martín-Lara. slowUp. 2016. Calafell. Tapialblock LC + base mortar. Photos courtesy of Fetdeterra. “The terral house is an ecological dwelling that tends towards 0 Co2 emissions, designed under bioclimatic parameters and using natural materials. The initial construction system for the project was the S-low modular bio-construction system, based on a light industrialised timber frame structure on a lime concrete foundation and an enclosure based on rammed earth walls made on site. When we learned about Fetdeterra’s prefabricated compacted earth, we did not hesitate to adapt the system to incorporate Tapialblock, as it was more in line with the philosophy of the project: industrialisation, dry construction, reduction of execution times” says the architect.

Fetdeterra products

Product catalogue (download)

Tapialblock

Tapialblock is an eco-innovative product from its formulation to its manufacture and reuse. Composed of 100% recyclable natural materials and manufactured with minimum energy costs. Thinking about health and benefit for the user, and sustainability for the environment.The advantages offered by the prefabricated earth block compared to the traditional system of construction of rammed earth walls are: Control of the material, curing and quality of the product. Constant geometry and regular dimensions. Reduction of execution time, without the need for specialised labour. Minimisation of materials and equipment required.

Alive Earthblock

Prefabricated raw earth block with controlled erosion. Innovative technique and material for the restoration of earthen walls, to conserve and recover our architectural heritage. Format: 20 x 10 x 12 cm.

Earth paint

Fetdeterra products are made from the natural components of the earth, Fetdeterra earth paint is a material that does not contain toxic ingredients, VOCs (harmful chemical substances released during and after application) or artificial pigments, as it is the clay that provides the colouring to the mixture, it is breathable and thanks to the natural process of carbonation of the lime, it absorbs CO2 from the environment and purifies the air, so it is considered a healthy material for the user and environmentally sustainable.

Mortar and Plaster

These are natural hydraulic lime mortars made only with natural raw materials and suitable for joining Tapialblock blocks. They are breathable to water vapour and impermeable to rainwater, which allows the most suitable hygrometric balance to be established between the interior and exterior of the construction. They are designed to achieve the most similar mechanical properties to the starting material or the substrate, as part of its hardening comes from its reaction with CO2 from the air, thus obtaining two important direct benefits: the consumption of CO2 (harmful to the environment) and the absence of hydrated silicates of a cementitious nature that can attack the substrate. The rest of its setting occurs in a hydraulic and controlled way, so that both the speed of development of the resistances and the levels of these are appropriate at all times.

Fetdeterra

Fetdeterra is a team of architects and engineers specialising in earthen architecture and accredited consultants in eco-innovation, product design and technological development, working with users, technicians and manufacturers from the earliest stages of the project to find the solution that best suits their needs.

Fetdeterra promotes the use of natural materials for sustainable, ecological and environmentally friendly construction. 100% recyclable materials, with low energy costs, which allow the construction of healthy and efficient habitats.

As advisors in eco-innovation, they work in various areas of research and the search for new products and construction systems using earth. They study the properties of materials and the optimum composition to obtain maximum performance, while at the same time paving the way for their standardisation and adaptation to current legislation as members of the Technical Committee UNE-CTN 41/SC 10.

Maite Sainz de la Maza Benet
Architect by the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona, ETSAB. DEA. PhD course on Restoration and Rehabilitation, ETSAB-UPC Barcelona. Consultant in eco-innovation, product design and technological development.

Macari de Torres Mestres
Geological engineer by the School of Engineering, Canals and Ports of Barcelona-UPC and the Faculty of Geology-UB. Master in Sustainable Construction with Earth from the University of Girona
Advisor in eco-innovation, product design and technological development.

Source: Fetdeterra.

Project by Fetdeterra. Maite Sainz de la Maza y Macari de Torres