LUONNONBETONI contains clay and different sized aggregates without chemical additives nor processing.
LUONNONBETONI: building an ecofriendly future with natural concrete In an age of ever-increasing environmental awareness, one young Finnish company is pioneering new concrete production and design. LUONNONBETONI, meaning ‘natural concrete’ in English, is a start-up company making inroads into sustainable building materials. By Philip Denvir
Based in Nummela, Vihti, in Southern Finland, LUONNONBETONI was founded in 2017 by architects Kristiina Kuusiluoma and Martino De Rossi, and Vihdin Betoni – a factory producing prefabricated concrete elements, who together identified a need for cement-free building materials. Kuusiluoma explains: “We are two founding architects from Studio Collaboratorio, and we were seeking a way to produce strong, ethical and environmentally-friendly building materials. We use natural materials like wood, clay and straw in our architectural work and became convinced of the need for more ecological stone-based products. We 18 |
Issue 152
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March 2023
came across rammed earth – one of the oldest building techniques known to mankind – and that inspired us to create LUONNONBETONI.” A cutting-edge product born from tradition LUONNONBETONI is made from unburned clay and aggregates. Aggregates consist of granular natural materials such as sand, gravel and crushed stone, which give LUONNONBETONI products their unique patterns and hues. Raw clay imparts moisture-balancing and heat-storing qualities, while clay’s plasticity enables floors or walls to be built without seams – which is great news for designers.
Neither cement nor other energyintensive industrial processes are used in the production of LUONNONBETONI. Its key properties of hardness and durability are achieved by compressing the sifted clay and aggregate extremely densely into the desired shape. The surface is then sealed with linseed oil wax or other natural sealants, so it repels moisture and dirt, and is easy to clean. “We started mainly by doing floors and are now piloting exterior walls. It’s all going on now! There is a lot of overseas interest. Ecological values are becoming more prominent in Finland, Scandinavia and Europe. However, we need to take an environmentally-conscious approach to operating and delivering over large areas both at home and abroad,” says Kuusiluoma. The company’s products have been used in everything from stylish flooring and elegant staircases to luxurious bathrooms.