Lehm Ton Erde

What Lehm Ton Erde does

Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH is an Austrian construction firm founded in 1984 by Martin Rauch, specializing in rammed earth (Stampflehm) building using exclusively unstabilized, 100% earth construction. The company operates from its headquarters and production workshop (Werkhalle) in Schlins, Vorarlberg, and serves clients across the DACH region (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), the UK, Italy, Liechtenstein, and broader Europe through 59 documented completed projects. Its work spans bespoke residential homes, large-scale commercial offices (notably Europe's largest clay-façade office building, Alnatura Campus at 13,500 m²), educational and religious buildings, hospitality and spa facilities, zoo enclosures, and art installations, with marquee clients including Alnatura, Herzog & de Meuron, Erzbischöfliches Studienseminar St. Michael, and the Berlinische Galerie.

The company's core technology is unstabilized rammed earth modernized through workshop-level prefabrication, mobile field factory production, and integration with timber (LEHMIT hybrid system), geothermal wall heating, and core insulation. The product portfolio includes Walls (Wand), Floors (Boden), Interior Linings (Vorsatzschale), and Ceilings (Decke) as primary structural offerings, complemented by specialty products: Lehmo monolithic rammed earth storage stoves, Lehmkasein (Clay Casein) natural filler, Arts & Objects, and Ceramics via the KARAK partnership. Recent landmark output includes Campus St. Michael (2025, Germany's first free-standing rammed earth building — 967 elements, 1,850 m², 1,817 t) and the HORTUS project with Herzog & de Meuron (2024, 800 hybrid timber-clay ceiling elements produced in 100 production days).

Revenue is generated primarily through bespoke project-based professional services — feasibility studies, conceptual planning, prefabricated element production, and full project execution — under multi-year contracts. Secondary streams include Lehmo hardware sales through Müller Ofenbau, Clay Casein distribution via David Ledetzky, technical publications with DETAIL Verlag and gta Verlag, and consulting/knowledge-transfer engagements (including Harvard MudWorks). Go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, with direct engagement of architects, developers, institutions, and private clients via a website inquiry form; no public pricing or rate cards are disclosed. The company is founder-controlled, privately held, with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds.

Name

Lehm Ton Erde

Legal name

Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH

Website

https://lehmtonerde.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lehm Ton Erde is an Austrian rammed earth construction firm founded in 1984 by Martin Rauch, specializing in unstabilized earth walls, floors, ceilings, and hybrid timber-clay systems. It serves architects, developers, and institutions across DACH and broader Europe with bespoke projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Construction Services

NAICS

Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212)

SIC

Structural Clay Products (3250)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Rammed earth construction
• Earth building services
• Earthen architecture
• Clay prefabrication
• Sustainable construction materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlins

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Rammed Earth Construction Projects: The primary revenue stream is project-based fees for the design, planning, production, and execution of rammed earth construction projects. Services include feasibility studies, conceptual planning, detailed engineering, production of prefabricated elements (in workshop, field factory, or on-site), and full project execution. Clients include architects, developers, institutions, and private clients across DACH, UK, and broader Europe. Projects range from small residential interventions to large-scale commercial buildings such as the Alnatura Campus (13,500 m²) and Campus St. Michael (~3,850 m² wall area).
2. Lehmo — Rammed Earth Storage Stoves: Sale of prefabricated monolithic rammed earth storage stoves (Lehmo), produced in the Schlins workshop and completed with combustion technology by Müller Ofenbau. Inquiries are handled through the cooperation partner. The stoves range from 1,000 to 5,000 kg and are priced as bespoke, engineered products.
3. Clay Casein Products (Lehmkasein): Clay casein filler produced in the Schlins studio and sold for application on floors, walls, and furniture. Distributed through the company's own studio and via cooperation partner David Ledetzky. Offered as a crafted, artisanal product with custom color matching.
4. Publications & Knowledge Products: The company publishes technical handbooks, design guides, and planning manuals available as PDFs and printed materials. These serve both as knowledge products and as tools for positioning Lehm Ton Erde as the authority in rammed earth construction. Published works include 'Refined Earth' (2015, DETAIL Verlag) and 'Upscaling Earth' (2019, gta Verlag).
5. Consulting, Training & Knowledge Transfer: Workshops, training programmes, and expert supervision for building-sector professionals focused on solid and massed earthen construction. The Brickyard project in Wiltshire included knowledge transfer as part of the engagement. The company also conducts lectures, presentations, and participates in academic programmes (e.g., MudWorks Harvard University workshop).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lehm Ton Erde designs, prefabricates, and builds rammed earth (Stampflehm) architectural elements including walls, floors, ceilings, and interior linings using 100% unstabilized earth, delivered as integrated services covering planning, production, and on-site execution. The company also manufactures and sells complementary earthen products: Lehmo storage stoves, Lehmkasein clay-casein finishes, ceramics, and bespoke art/objects. Customers are architects, developers, institutions, and private clients primarily in the DACH region, UK, and Italy.

Product overview

Lehm Ton Erde is a rammed earth construction company offering a portfolio of earth-based building products and services. The core offerings include Walls (Wand), Floors (Boden), Interior Linings (Vorsatzschale), and Ceilings (Decke) – all made from 100% earth materials. These structural products are complemented by specialized offerings: Lehmo (monolithic rammed earth storage stoves), Lehmkasein (clay casein filler for seamless surfaces), Arts & Objects (artistic sculptures and unique pieces), and Ceramics (handcrafted tiles and bricks). The company also provides comprehensive services including on-site production, prefabrication, field factory operations, technical consulting, feasibility studies, knowledge transfer, recipe development, mock-up creation, and research and development. The product portfolio spans from structural building elements to artistic/decorative applications, all centered on natural, sustainable earth-based materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEHMIT: Development of building systems made of earth and wood in harmony with nature – sustainable, circular and respectful.
• Lehmkasein
• Lehmo
• KARAK

Products and services

• Rammed Earth Walls (Wand) Load-bearing and non-load-bearing rammed earth walls using 100% unstabilized earth, offered as a design, prefabrication, and execution service for architects, developers, and institutions building sustainable structures.
• Rammed Earth Floors (Boden) Load-bearing rammed earth floor constructions produced as a designed and prefabricated service for architects and developers.
• Rammed Earth Interior Linings (Vorsatzschale) Non-load-bearing rammed earth interior wall linings using 100% unstabilized earth, delivered as a design and execution service for interior spaces.
• Rammed Earth Ceilings (Decke) Unstabilized rammed earth ceiling constructions, designed and executed by the company for architects and developers.
• Lehmo Storage Stoves Handcrafted earthen storage stoves sold under the Lehmo sub-brand, designed for residential and commercial interiors.
• Lehmkasein Clay Casein Product Clay-casein based surface finishes and plasters sold under the Lehmkasein sub-brand for interior applications.
• Arts and Objects (Kunst & Objekt) Bespoke earth-based artworks and decorative objects produced under the KARAK sub-brand.
• Ceramics (Keramik) Handcrafted ceramic products produced in-house at the Schlins workshop, sold to clients seeking artisanal complementary offerings.
• LEHMIT Hybrid Timber-Clay System Hybrid timber-clay construction product jointly developed with Blumer Lehmann, combining rammed earth with engineered timber for structural and architectural use.
• Construction Services (Planning, Prefabrication, Execution) Integrated services covering planning, in-house prefabrication at the Schlins workshop, and on-site execution of rammed earth projects, delivered as a full service package for architects, developers, and institutions.
• Field Factory On-Site Prefabrication Service Mobile on-site prefabrication service using the proprietary Field Factory system, deployed to project sites to prefabricate rammed earth components locally.
• Consulting Services Specialist consulting services for architects, developers, and clients on rammed earth construction, including technical feasibility, material specification, and execution planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alnatura Campus (Europe's largest office building with a clay façade) — 13,500 m² gross floor area, 500 employees, industrial prefabrication with integrated core insulation and geothermal wall heating. Awarded German Sustainability Award Architecture 2019.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LEHMIT (Lehmit.com)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEHMIT is a joint venture between Lehm Ton Erde and Blumer Lehmann for the development and commercialization of hybrid building systems combining rammed earth with timber. The partnership emerged from the HORTUS project (Herzog & de Meuron), where nearly 800 hybrid timber-rammed earth ceiling elements were produced. LEHMIT markets these systems as sustainable, circular building solutions. The LEHMIT logo appears on the Lehm Ton Erde website footer as a flagship brand.
• Blumer Lehmann (Timber Industry & Construction)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss timber construction company and partner in the LEHMIT joint venture. Blumer Lehmann contributed to the HORTUS project alongside Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH, and the two companies co-founded LEHMIT to commercialize hybrid timber-clay construction systems.
• Müller OfenbaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation partner for the Lehmo product line — monolithic rammed earth storage stoves made from 100% earth. Müller Ofenbau handles inquiries, design consultation, and the installation of combustion technology (firing opening, combustion chamber, flues) for Lehmo products. The partnership combines Lehm Ton Erde's material expertise with Müller Ofenbau's heating technology.
• KARAK (Ceramic Workshop)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner ceramic workshop producing ornamental tiles in Raku technique (traditional Japanese ceramic firing) from Bludenz. KARAK complements Lehm Ton Erde's ceramic product range with decorative, handcrafted tiles. Each piece is a unique creation shaped by earth, fire, and design.
• Studio Anna HeringercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration between Anna Heringer and Martin Rauch. Since 2016, they operate an official joint studio (ARGE Heringer Rauch) alongside their individual practices. Key joint projects include Campus St. Michael (Germany's first free-standing rammed earth building), Omicron, and MudWorks Harvard. Both share the ambition to restore the value of earth as a building material and unlock its aesthetic potential.
• David Ledetzky (Execution & Consulting Clay Casein)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCooperation partner for the execution and consulting of Clay Casein (Lehmkasein) applications. David Ledetzky handles design consultation, technical details, and application services for clay casein surfaces on floors, walls, and furniture.
• BASEhabitat (University of Art and Design Linz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio within the Architecture Department of the University of Art and Design Linz focused on sustainable architecture. Listed as part of Lehm Ton Erde's professional network, suggesting collaboration on research, education, or student projects.
• DADO earthen constructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist in earthen construction and building materials supply, listed as part of the Lehm Ton Erde network. DADO operates in the DACH region as a specialist contractor and supplier for earth building projects.
• Lehmbau Tim LangerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClay building company listed as part of the Lehm Ton Erde network. Specializes in execution of clay construction projects.
• Netzwerk Lehm (Trade Association)minorOthersTrade association for the promotion of earth building, based in Austria. Lehm Ton Erde is a member, contributing to and benefiting from industry representation and the advancement of earth building standards in the DACH market.
• IG Lehm (Swiss Clay Association)minorOthersSwiss clay building association. Lehm Ton Erde participates as a member, supporting the advancement of earth building standards, certification, and market development in Switzerland.
• Dachverband Lehm (Federal Association for Earth Building)minorOthersFederal (German) association for the promotion of earth building. Lehm Ton Erde is a member, contributing to national advocacy, standards development, and market growth for earth construction in Germany.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Müller Ofenbau: Austrian stove/ofbau specialist that handles the commercial interface, combustion engineering, and installation for Lehm Ton Erde's Lehmo monolithic rammed-earth storage stoves. Comparable as a channel partner within the same Lehmo product ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Roger Boltshauser Architekten: Swiss architecture studio and longtime collaborator with Lehm Ton Erde (Haus Rauch in Schlins, Sportanlage Sihlhölzli Zürich). Comparable as a DACH architect with deep, recurring engagement on rammed-earth buildings and a parallel craft-architecture positioning.

Direct peers

• Studio Anna Heringer: International architecture studio led by Anna Heringer focused on sustainable, locally sourced building materials including earth and bamboo. Collaborates with Martin Rauch via the ARGE Heringer Rauch joint studio on flagship projects such as Campus St. Michael, Omicron, and MudWorks Harvard — making it the closest artistic and technical peer in contemporary earthen architecture.
• Peter Vetsch Architekten: Swiss architecture studio famous for the 'Haus ohne Stoß' earth-house typology using rammed earth with integrated, organic geometries. Directly comparable to Lehm Ton Erde on material, craft approach, and DACH-region premium residential market, though operating with a single-house architectural focus rather than a contractor/workshop model.

Regional players

• DADO Erdenbau: Austrian specialist in earthen construction and natural building materials listed within Lehm Ton Erde's network. Comparable on material focus (clay building) and DACH regional execution, though smaller and oriented more toward materials supply and contractor execution than flagship architectural projects.
• Lehmbau Tim Langer: DACH-region clay building company within Lehm Ton Erde's execution network. Comparable on material and craft specialty, though operating at smaller scale and without the same premium-project positioning or international reference portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Baufritz: German sustainable home builder offering prefabricated timber homes with a strong natural-materials and ESG positioning. Comparable as a DACH premium sustainable-construction brand competing for similar high-end residential and institutional clients, but focused on timber rather than earth and operating at significantly greater scale.
• Durisol: Established European manufacturer of wood-concrete (Durisol) and earth-based building blocks used for walls and residential construction. Comparable as an industrialized, building-code-approved earth-material supplier, but with a block/panel product rather than Lehm Ton Erde's monolithic rammed-earth craft execution.
• Blumer Lehmann: Large Swiss timber engineering and construction company, joint-venture partner with Lehm Ton Erde in LEHMIT for hybrid timber-clay systems. Significantly larger scale and broader mass-timber portfolio, but directly comparable on hybrid building systems, prefabrication, and project co-delivery (HORTUS).

Emerging players

• Hempitecture: US-based emerging manufacturer of hempcrete (hemp-lime) building materials marketed as a low-carbon, bio-based alternative to conventional construction. Comparable as a mission-aligned, sustainability-positioned building-materials company targeting the same ESG-driven developer and architect base, though with a different primary material.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Lehm-Ton-Erde-Baukunst-100085339074352
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lehm-ton-erde
• Instagraminstagram.com/erden.at

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lehm Ton Erde