We are facing a systematic excess of excavated earth. For construction projects, earth is excavated. A small part of it is temporary stored to be used for future terrain changes. However, most of the excavated earth is legally considered waste and the biggest portion is backfilled into gravel pits. According to regulations, 50% of the contaminated earth should be recycled. It is washed in a soil washing plant to extract sand and gravel out of it. The rest is dumped into a landfill.

This project aims at a radical change in this material flow. Why don’t we exploit the potential and value of excavated earth as building material? Proposing a factory where excavated earth is turned into earthen products should initiate this change. The moment the contract of the Zurich slaughterhouse expires in 2029, it is a suitable location for the earth factory through its centrality and big surface. The earth factory functions as catalyst for the transformation of the area into a vibrant place of urban production, education, and gathering. Corresponding to the reuse of excavated earth, there is no longer the need to backfill gravel pits. They are given back to nature, preserving a biodiverse habitat for many species.