Solutions for housing

Building lighter and smarter with gypsum

Gypsum-based solutions are essential for delivering sustainable, affordable, and high-quality housing. Gypsum products such as plaster, plasterboard, or gypsum blocks combine low embodied carbon with strong technical performance, supporting Europe’s climate goals and building renovation efforts. Gypsum products are a key element of lightweight construction systems.

Perforated plasterboard ceiling inside a vertical extension of a commercial building, Großenlüder, Germany. © Knauf / Sigi Lustenberger

What is lightweight construction?

Lightweight construction is a construction method based on a skeleton made of light materials such as steel or wood and partition wall systems combining gypsum boards and insulation materials. These constructions are lighter and less thick than traditional building methods, which means they use less energy to build. At the same time, thanks to the use of gypsum boards and insulation materials, the wall systems offer excellent durability and high technical performance when it comes to energy efficiency, fire safety, and acoustic performance.

Treehouses Bebelallee, a vertical extension of residential buildings dating from the 1950s, which was combined with an upgrade of the entire energy infrastructure. Hamburg, Germany. ©James Hardie Europe

The constructions are easy to disassemble, and their materials can be separated and recycled. This construction method can be used for new buildings as well as to renovate and repurpose existing buildings. Moreover, given its relatively low weight as compared to traditional building methods, lightweight construction makes it possible to add new floors on top of existing buildings, this way creating new living space without requiring new building land.

Prefabricated external wall being installed on the building site. © Siniat, Ratingen

Lightweight construction is the optimal choice for use in offsite construction methods. These systems are easy to prefabricate into panels or full modules, light to transport and handle, quick to assemble on-site. This leads to shorter construction times, reduced costs, less disturbance onsite, higher quality control, and less material waste.

Learn more about lightweight construction through the BUILD LIGHT website.

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Affordable, adaptable, and comfortable

Gypsum solutions help create economical and adaptable living spaces. They are easy to install, support modular and offsite construction, and allow for flexible adaptations, extending the lifespan of buildings. At the same time, energy-efficient systems using gypsum help households reduce energy bills.

Retirement residence “Haus Tauberblick”, built with the use of prefabrication, Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. ©Marc Wiegelmann/Saint-Gobain Rigips GmbH

Gypsum also improves indoor comfort and safety:

Non-combustible gypsum solutions ensure optimal levels of fire resistance and limit fire and smoke dissemination in the building.
Gypsum’s natural properties limit temperature changes and moisture in the room.
These solutions help creating spaces with outstanding acoustic performance.

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#EG60

Find out more and get inspired with the #EG60 Guide, showing 60 examples of remarkable, challenging, sustainable, affordable and aesthetic achievements with gypsum. From residential buildings to bakeries or museums, these examples illustrate our commitment to sustainability over the years.

Explore the #EC60 guide here