Publications
Swiss publications
Lignatec No. 36- Recycling of construction timber for load-bearing purposes
Author: Gunther Ratsch, Lignum / Lecturers: Christoph Fuhrmann, Dipl. Holzbau-Ing. HTL/SIA, BFH-AHB, Biel; Urs Luginbühl, Dipl. Holzbau-Ing. HTL, Ingenieurbüro Luginbühl, Biel; René Steiger, Dr. sc. techn., dipl. Bau-Ing. ETH/SIA, Empa, Dübendorf (2023)
Language: German, French
The recycling of construction timber extends the useful life of building materials and components. This conserves resources and reduces the environmental impact of new production. The Lignum publication provides information on the circular economy possibilities of solid wood and glued solid wood products in the construction industry.
Learning from pioneers of the circular economy
Vanessa Feri (2023) Language: German
Der Forschungsbericht „Von Pionieren der Kreislaufwirtschaft lernen“ gewährt Einblicke in die Bauteilwiederverwendung. Erfahrungen von Akteur:innen zeigen, dass praktische Rückbauerfahrung transformierend wirkt und ein Verständnis für reversible Konstruktionen schafft. Der Bericht betont die Herausforderungen und Chancen der Wiederverwendung von Baumaterialien, unterstreicht die Bedeutung frühzeitiger Schulung und hebt die Zusammenarbeit zwischen verschiedenen Akteur:innen hervor. Organisatorische Aspekte wie zeitlicher Ablauf und Lagerplatz sowie neue Berufsfelder in der Baubranche werden skizziert. Der Fokus liegt auf der Vielfalt der Ansätze und Lösungen, die den Wert bereits existierender Materialien steigern.
Reuse in the Swiss construction industry - potentials, challenges and starting points
Prof. Dr. Nadine Gurtner, M. Sc Barbora Starovicova (2023) Language: German
As part of a recent study, Bern University of Applied Sciences recorded the perspectives of the various players in the construction industry with regard to the reuse of building parts and components. The study shows: The construction industry's interest in the circular economy and the will to drive it forward are clearly noticeable. The potential is promising, but the challenges are also complex. The study summarizes the diverse current challenges of reusing building parts and components from the perspective of the stakeholders and structures the proposals for tackling them into a few key starting points.
Note sheet - Reuse of components
Angst, M.; Feri,V; Oefner, A.; Ott, C.; Streiff, O.; Zoller-Eckenstein, A. (2023) Language: German
This leaflet "Reuse of building components" serves as a guide for construction professionals and clients and provides an important basis for circular construction projects. It brings together the knowledge gained from pioneering work on services and processes for the reuse of building components and explains the key legal aspects that need to be taken into account.
The fact sheet was created as part of the Innosuisse project no. 55734.1 IP-SBM "Reuse of building components: Legal Framework" in collaboration with Zirkular GmbH and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, School of Management and Law, Urban Planning and Environmental Law Department.
Innovations Practitioners Need for Circularity in the Swiss Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Sector
De Wolf, C.; Raghu, D.; Sentic, A.; Fivet, C. (2023) Language: English
This paper highlights practitioners’ needs for implementing circularity in the AEC sector in Switzerland, and how digital platforms could support it. We hosted two workshops with industry practitioners in the Swiss AEC sector to find out their needs from academia, government, and industry to implement such a shift.
Re-Use: Reuse of steel components
SZS (2021) Language: German / French
The new guide in the "steelaid" series of the Swiss Steel Construction Center SZS gives advice on what to consider when reusing steel components, structures, and constructions. The reuse of steel components or entire steel structures is an excellent option for the ecological optimization of steel structures.
Circular architecture
espazium (2021) Language: German / French / Italian
The booklet "Circular Architecture", produced on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment, gives an impression of how diverse the topic of circular economy is. Among the published architectural examples, there are conversions - because of the conservation of gray energy, they are often the most sustainable solution - but also new buildings that show what circular architecture of the future must look like.
Selective deconstruction - deconstructable construction:
study to promote waste reduction and reuse in the construction industry.
Küpfer C., Fivet, C. (2021) Language: German, French
This collection is based on a literature review and 32 case studies and interviews with professionals and: ' summarizes the basic principles of both approaches; ' documents and shares field reports and best practices; ' provides technical references for contractors, designers, and clients; ' provides an up-to-date and detailed theoretical background and references for further development; ' outlines opportunities for further development and implementation for Swiss buildings.
The reuse of components: An overview from a legal perspective
Abegg, A., Streiff, O. (2021) Language: German
Whether demolition concrete is crushed into granules and used as the basis for recycled concrete, or whether entire windows are removed from a demolished object and installed in another building, makes a big difference from different perspectives. This anthology takes these different perspectives and elaborates on both the public law and private law frameworks for reuse of building components. In the process, open questions and the need for further research also become clear. The results provide not only lawyers, but also building owners and planners with a practice-oriented overview of the topic.
Reuse Construction, Current Situation and Prospects : The Roadmap
de Perrot, O., Massard-Friat (2020) Language: German, French
To investigate the potential of reusable construction elements, the Federal Office for the Environment commissioned a study from Salza GmbH and the Geneva-based construction elements company Matériuum. The result: reuse can find its place in the construction sector. The authors of the study suggest including reuse in vocational training programs and publicizing and documenting both architectural and design achievements in the field of reuse and corresponding construction projects. Policymakers should support and consolidate reuse in the construction sector. Finally, reuse service providers should be organized more efficiently.
Re-use / Re-utilisation Guide 2021/22, Biel/Bienne - Seeland
Syphon AG (2021) Language: German, French
This brochure is a kind of prototype, without any claim to completeness, but already with many practical suggestions. The first part of the brochure focuses on the reuse ofa second part expands the topic into all possible areas in the region of Biel - Seeland. region of Biel - Seeland and the third part is the annual report 2020 of the Bauteilbörse Syphon AG.
Building components reuse : a compendium on circular construction
Published by the Institute of Structural Design, ZHAW Department of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering; Eva Stricker, Guido Brandi, Andreas Sonderegger; Baubüro in situ AG, Zirkular GmbH; Marc Angst, Barbara Buser, Michel Massmünster (2021) Language: German
This book offers a comprehensive compendium that explores in detail all the issues surrounding the reuse of building components. They are played out using a concrete example: the K 118 head building on Winterthur's Lagerplatz, the largest building in Switzerland to date that consists mainly of reused components. Since 2018, this unique pilot project has been evaluated within the framework of an interdisciplinary research project with regard to architectural-constructive, energetic, economic, procedural and legal issues. All the results are collected in this book and presented in a highly descriptive manner, both visually and in terms of content.
European publications
A guide for identifying the reuse potential of construction products (Belgium)
Deweerdt, M., (BBRI) & Mertens, M. (Brussels Environmnent) (2020) Language: English
Dieses Dokument enthält Leitlinien für die Durchführung eines Rückbau-Audits.
Ein Rückgewinnungsaudit ist eine Maßnahme, die in Gebäuden durchgeführt wird, die für einen teilweisen oder vollständigen Abriss vorgesehen sind. Sie zielt darauf ab, die Baumaterialien und -produkte zu identifizieren, die ein hohes Wiederverwendungspotenzial aufweisen. Das Ergebnis dieses Audits ist ein „Sanierungsinventar“, in dem die identifizierten wiederverwendbaren Gebäudeelemente aufgeführt sind. Die daraus resultierenden Verzeichnisse enthalten Informationen über die Eigenschaften der Materialien und Produkte, wie z. B. Abmessungen, Mengen, Bedingungen, Umweltauswirkungen, technische Merkmale, Demontageempfehlungen usw. Dieses Handbuch stellt eine Methode zur Durchführung dieser Audits vor. Es richtet sich an Baufachleute und alle am (Rück-)Bauprozess beteiligten Akteure: Bauherren, Bauunternehmer, Architekten und Ingenieure usw.
Sustainable & Circular Re-Use of Spaces and Buildings Handbook
Urban Agenda Partnership, Funded by the European Commission (2019) Language: English, Italian
This handbook can be a useful tool to lay the foundation for an overall strategy Strategy to create a new model of urban reuse according to the principles of the circular economy. The book is intended to serve as a stimulus and incentive for strategic planning at the city level, carried out in particular by public authorities, but also supported by the regional and national levels. Through a comprehensive overview and analysis of best practices for urban reuse provided by the handbook, cities can learn about the different solutions that can be adopted, taking into account their urban characteristics. The approach could be bottom-up or, conversely, top-down, using different governance models to address specific situations.
Design for Deconstruction : SEDA Design Guides for Scotland No 1
Morgan, C., Stevenson, F. SEDA (2005) Language: English
Planning details for deconstruction at the beginning of a project allows one building to serve as a resource for the next at the end of its useful life and helps close the loop on resource use. The general guide focuses on the idea of practical reuse and should be read in conjunction with other guides on sustainable design, deconstruction, and recycling to provide a comprehensive design framework. The details provided have been fully costed, tested, and deficiency tested. They are offered as viable alternatives to standard details and illustrate reuse options.
Scientific publications
Fivet, C., Brütting, J. Nothing is lost, nothing is created, is reused structural design for a circular economy The Structural Engineer, vol. 98(1), p. 74-81, 2020.
This circular economy strategy, still in its infancy, represents a break in building design practice in many ways: Instead of manufacturing components as a system is designed, the system is synthesized from a specific inventory of reused components; versatility, reversibility, and transformability become hard requirements for all load-bearing systems and components; cost, performance, and environmental assessments span multiple life cycles. As a result, there is a sudden shortage of expertise, design tools, technological solutions, and relevant metrics. This article contextualizes the impact of the industrial circular economy on building design practice and reviews recent and future developments in the field.
