Raw earth: on the outskirts of Paris, the experience of “La Fabrique Cycle Terre” came to an end

The Bobigny commercial court declared the compulsory liquidation of the cooperative society on March 21.

“La Fabrique Cycle Terre unfortunately had to close its doors on April 10. For essentially cyclical, technical and financial reasons, the Fabrique was no longer able to carry out its mission”: On the social network Linkedin, a brief epitaph informs of the cessation of the activity, without further explanation.

Incubated by the city of Sevran since 2017, with a consortium bringing together architects, researchers, development and works companies, this company displayed the ambition to use the millions of cubic meters of excavated earth from the Ile-de-France tunnels and construction sites as new building material.

It suffered from brick-making machine breakdowns and cash flow problems.

It produced stabilized compressed earth bricks, uncooked, to make walls and partitions, allowing humidity regulation and emitting no CO2 for their production, unlike cemented concrete blocks.

Created in December 2020 by seven partners, the company benefited from a European grant of nearly 5 million euros.

In the wake of a movement of architects, engineers, landscapers, teachers and elected officials wishing to commit to “frugal” architecture in 2018, Cycle Terre has managed to advance construction techniques using raw earth bricks.

The cooperative thus obtained three “Technical experimental assessments” of type A, or “Apex”, the essential keys to allowing the insurability of mud partitions, and triggering the development of the technique.

A “potential buyer is looking for financing and local authorities are thinking about how to help Cycle terre season 2”, indicated the architect Paul-Emmanuel Loiret, former president of the cooperative on social networks.

In the meantime, from November 2024 to March 2025, training sessions on earth construction will be provided at the Factory, the mayor of Sevran Stéphane Blanchet told AFP, “very disappointed” with the ruling. operations.

“La Fabrique had a positive order book, but had to face insoluble cash flow problems” he added, believing that it “still had its place in relation to the challenges of transforming construction”.