{"id":1061,"date":"2026-09-21T15:11:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T15:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1061"},"modified":"2026-09-21T15:11:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T15:11:35","slug":"okay-readers-this-is-important-the-brand-new-building-when-the-money-connects-for-baarda-ch-and-related-activities-like-the-popsodariboflavine-drink-will-need-to-have-a-building-foundation-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1061","title":{"rendered":"Okay readers, this is important. The brand new building &#8211; when the money connects &#8211; for baarda.ch and related activities (like the PopSodaRiboflavine drink) will need to have a building foundation too. To me it seems an important aspect for a physical building on earth. Reint Jelger: I want to know about the ideas about foundations. I specifically mean buildings, particularly houses and appartment buildings. Could you give me an oversight of what is needed and how they are built in Switzerland, and in different areas of provinsje Fryslan? Thank you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Google Gemini: Building foundations are the crucial transition zone between the structural weight of a building and the geology underneath it. Across both residential houses and multi-storey apartment buildings, foundations must handle vertical loads (gravity, weight of inhabitants and materials), horizontal\/dynamic loads (wind, earthquakes), and localized ground behaviors (frost heave, water tables, organic settlement).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enormous Buildings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baseline engineering principles differ dramatically between Switzerland and Frysl\u00e2n due to their contrasting topography, soil composition, and environmental forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Fundamentals: What Every Building Foundation Needs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of location, a foundation requires:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Load Transmission:<\/strong> Transferring the dead load (building structure) and live load (people, furniture) to a load-bearing layer of soil or rock without exceeding the soil&#8217;s ultimate bearing capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Settlement Management:<\/strong> Avoiding uneven or total settlement that could cause structural cracking, tilting, or shear failure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environmental Protection:<\/strong> Preventing moisture ingress via damp-proof courses\/membranes and reaching a depth below the frost line to avoid frost heave. Enormous Buildings<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Foundations in Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland\u2019s geology ranges from solid Alpine bedrock and glacial till (<em>Mor\u00e4ne<\/em>) to alluvial gravels and lacustrine deposits around lakes. Swiss building codes strictly enforce frost protection, energy performance, and seismic resilience (<em>SIA standards<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Typical Swiss Slab Structure (Ground Level)\n\u250c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2510\n\u2502     In-situ Concrete Floor Slab         \u2502\n\u251c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2524\n\u2502  XPS\/Thermal Insulation (Perimeter)     \u2502\n\u251c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2524\n\u2502    Waterproofing &amp; Blinding Layer       \u2502\n\u251c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2524\n\u2502  Compacted Gravel \/ Hardcore (150mm+)   \u2502\n\u2514\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2518\n          \u25bc Deep Structural Bedrock\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Core Requirements &amp; Techniques<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Frost Depth:<\/strong> The standard frost penetration depth in the lowlands\/plateau is around <strong>0.80 m to 0.95 m<\/strong> below ground level. All uninsulated foundations must bear below this frost line. In high-altitude Alpine villages, this depth increases significantly (up to 1.2 m\u20131.5 m). Enormous Buildings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seismic Provisions:<\/strong> Switzerland experiences moderate seismic activity (notably in Valais and Basel). The Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (<em>SIA 261<\/em>) requires tied strip footings, continuous foundation slabs, or structural ties to prevent differential movement during a earthquake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Basement Culture (<em>Untergeschoss<\/em>):<\/strong> Most Swiss single-family homes and apartment blocks are built with full concrete basements. Because basements require deep excavation down into competent gravel, bedrock, or hard clay, the foundation slab itself becomes the floor of the basement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preferred Foundation Types<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strip Footings (<em>Streifenfundament<\/em>):<\/strong> Used primarily on stable, gravelly, or rock-rich ground for light residential loads. Continuous concrete footings support load-bearing walls. Prefabhome.eu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monolithic Concrete Slabs (<em>Bodenplatte<\/em>):<\/strong> The most widespread method for both modern detached homes and apartment buildings. A reinforced, waterproof concrete slab (often built as a &#171;White Tank&#187; \/ <em>Weisse Wanne<\/em> system using impermeable concrete) sits over a thick layer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation and compacted gravel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Driven or Bored Piles (<em>Pf\u00e4hlung<\/em>):<\/strong> Applied mainly in valley floors or lakeside zones (e.g., around Lake Zurich or Lake Geneva) where topsoil consists of soft lacustrine silt or peat deposit before reaching stable gravel\/rock underneath.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Foundations in Provinsje Frysl\u00e2n (Friesland)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike Switzerland&#8217;s solid rock and mountain gravel, Frysl\u00e2n&#8217;s ground consists predominantly of soft, high-water-table, organic materials\u2014soft sea clay (<em>zeeklei<\/em>), peat (<em>veen<\/em>), and low-lying delta soils.<sup><\/sup> Soil performance varies drastically from the inland areas to the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JoostdeVree.nl<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Friesian Piled Foundation (Peat\/Clay Soils)\n  &#91; Apartment \/ House Load-Bearing Walls ]\n\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u252c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\n                   \u2502 Continuous Concrete Beam\n  =================\u2567================= \u25c4\u2500\u2500 Ground Level\n  \u2591\u2591 Soft Clay \/ Peat Layers \u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591 \u25c4\u2500\u2500 Non-bearing topsoil\n  \u2591\u2591 (High Water Table) \u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\u2591\n  \u2502                 \u2502                 \u2502\n  \u2502 Concrete Pile   \u2502 Concrete Pile   \u2502 \u25c4\u2500\u2500 Transmits load down\n  \u2502                 \u2502                 \u2502\n  \u25bc                 \u25bc                 \u25bc\n\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588\u2588 \u25c4\u2500\u2500 Deep Sand Layer (Draagkrachtige zandlaag)\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Regional Variation across Frysl\u00e2n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A. Coastal Clay Belt &amp; Northern Marshes (e.g., Wadden coast, Harlingen, Holwerd)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Subsurface:<\/strong> Layers of marine clay over sand. Heavy clay shrinks when dry and expands when wet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Method:<\/strong> Single-family homes occasionally use shallow foundations (<em>fundering op staal<\/em>\u2014not steel, but &#171;standing on firm ground&#187;) if the stable sand layer lies close to the surface (within 1\u20131.5 m). However, apartment buildings and modern houses rely almost exclusively on <strong>precast driven concrete piles<\/strong> (<em>prefab betonpalen<\/em>) driven 10 to 20 meters deep into the underlying Pleistocene sand layer. JoostdeVree.nl<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B. The Central Peat District (e.g., Sneek, Heerenveen, the Frisian Lakes)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Subsurface:<\/strong> Thick layers of highly compressible peat (<em>fean<\/em>) mixed with soft clay and very high ground-water levels. Peat cannot support direct structural loads and decays\/compresses if water levels drop or weight is applied.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Method:<\/strong> Direct shallow foundations are impossible here. Buildings require <strong>pile foundations<\/strong> (<em>paalfundering<\/em>). JoostdeVree.nl\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Historically, wooden piles were driven into the sand layer, kept permanently submerged under groundwater to avoid rotting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modern residential and apartment projects use driven precast concrete piles or vibration-free <strong>cast-in-place screw piles<\/strong> (<em>schroefpalen<\/em>) to avoid damaging neighboring structures. JoostdeVree.nl<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The top of these piles is connected by a stiff ring beam grid (<em>funderingsbalken<\/em>), over which insulated ground slabs (<em>combinatievloeren<\/em>) are placed. JoostdeVree.nl<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">C. Eastern Sandy Soils (e.g., Gaasterland, Drachten, Opsterland)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Subsurface:<\/strong> Glacial sand deposits and higher-elevation ridges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Method:<\/strong> Shallow strip or slab foundations (<em>fundering op staal<\/em>) are widely feasible here because the sandy ground offers high bearing capacity near the surface. JoostdeVree.nl<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Direct Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Feature \/ Factor<\/th><th>Switzerland<\/th><th>Provinsje Frysl\u00e2n<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Primary Subsurface<\/strong><\/td><td>Glacial till, gravel, limestone, granite bedrock<\/td><td>Soft marine clay, compressible peat, deep sand deposits<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dominant Foundation Type<\/strong><\/td><td>Monolithic Concrete Slabs (<em>Bodenplatte<\/em>), Strip footings<\/td><td>Deep Pile Foundations (<em>paalfundering<\/em>) into deep sand strata<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Key Environmental Threat<\/strong><\/td><td>Frost heave (up to 0.95m depth) &amp; low-to-moderate seismic activity<\/td><td>Organic settlement, peat oxidation, high water table, soil subsidence<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Basements<\/strong><\/td><td>Standard feature in nearly all houses\/apartments<\/td><td>Rare\/uncommon due to high groundwater and expensive tanking<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Excavation Work<\/strong><\/td><td>Blasting\/rock excavation, gravel leveling<\/td><td>Geotechnical cone penetration testing (<em>sondering<\/em>), deep pile driving<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google Gemini: Building foundations are the crucial transition zone between the structural weight of a building and the geology underneath it. Across both residential houses and multi-storey apartment buildings, foundations must handle vertical loads (gravity, weight of inhabitants and materials), &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/?p=1061\">Weiterlesen <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1061"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1062,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1061\/revisions\/1062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baarda.ch\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}