for reuse
in construction

Our goals

The reuse of building components and materials reduces construction waste, conserves resources, saves gray energy and reduces CO 2 emissions. It shifts economic activities to a local circular economy and thus makes an ecological, social and economic contribution to the built environment.

The aim of the association is to promote reuse throughout Switzerland, in particular by:

  • promoting the use of used components and materials
    in construction projects
  • the organization of a network of mutual assistance and
    cooperation
  • the visualization of the actors of reuse
  • The dissemination and communication of these practices to a wider audience.

All those interested in reuse can become members of the association with the following annual fee:

  • Individual membership : 50 CHF per year
  • Schools, association : CHF 250 per year
  • Cities : 2'000 CHF per year
  • Cantons : CHF 5,000 per year
  • Companies 1 - 10 pers. : 250 CHF per year
  • Companies 11 - 50 pers. : 500 CHF per year
  • Companies 51 - 100 persons : 1'000 CHF per year
  • Companies 101 + pers. : 2'000 CHF per year

 

Apply here

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of eleven elected members who collectively set the strategic vision for the association. They represent a range of stakeholders involved in reuse and are elected annually at the General Assembly. They are all volunteers and without their commitment the work of the association would not be possible.
Benjamin Poignon

Benjamin Poignon, Co-President - baubüro in situ

Completed his double degree in architecture and civil engineering in Lyon in 2014 (INSA-ENSA) and then worked as a construction manager and architect first in Lyon and then in Paris, where he co-founded the "Collectif Pourquoi Pas?!". He specialized in circular construction and reuse in Paris and set up the "Bricologis" workshop near Lyon in 2016. Since 2018, he is a collaborator at the construction office in situ in Zurich.

Barbora Starovicova

Barbora holds a Master's degree in timber construction from the Technical University of Zvolen (Slovakia) and has 6 years of extensive experience in this field, mainly as a project manager. Since 2016, she has been part of the Bern University of Applied Sciences at the Department of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Wood in Biel/Bienne. Here, as a researcher, she has focused on the development of wood-based materials, wood modifications and projects related to the circular economy.

Alma Johansson

She is an architect from Berlin. After studying at the TU-Berlin with a focus on urban design, she came to Zurich in 2002 and switched to representing building owners in 2007. She first worked in consulting for building cooperatives then for the canton of Zurich. She is currently developing an Innosuisse project with the Bern University of Applied Sciences on digital methods to promote the continued use of existing buildings.

Elias Knecht - ROTO-Reuse

Elias Knecht ist Architekt Dipl. Arch. ETHZ und arbeitet mit ROTO-Reuse zusammen. Er ist zudem Mitbegründer der nomol AG. Zuvor sammelte er praktische Erfahrungen bei verschiedenen Unternehmen, darunter Dürig AG, Emch AG, Oekofacta GmbH, baubüro in situ ag und lernte mit Yourtspace in Kirgisistan auch den Bau traditioneller Jurten. Als ehemaliger Forschungs- und Lehrassistent an der ETH Zürich verbrachte Elias zwei Jahre damit, am Lehrstuhl für Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) unter der Leitung von Prof. Catherine De Wolf sowie am Lehrstuhl für Architectural Behaviorology (CAB) unter der Leitung von Prof. Momoyo Kaijima zirkuläre Baumethoden zu lehren.

Barbara Lambec - EPFL

Barbara Lambec ist Doktorin, HMONP-Architektin, Expertin für Kulturerbe, Forscherin und Dozentin an der EPFL sowie Gastforscherin am CCL (Cornell, Bundesstaat New York). Schon früh begeisterte sie sich für das Alltägliche und dessen notwendige Ingeniosität aufgrund begrenzter Mittel. Daher entschied sie sich, an bestehenden Pariser Gebäuden zu arbeiten und hat mehr als hundert Sanierungs- und strukturelle Ertüchtigungsprojekte durchgeführt, hauptsächlich für Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaften. Ihre Doktorarbeit am Structural Xploration Lab befasst sich mit der Bewertung des Wiederverwendungspotenzials von Bauelementen.

Kasimir Forth - ETHz

Kasimir ist Postdoktorand am Lehrstuhl für Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) der ETH Zürich. Er erwarb 2018 seinen Master in „Energieeffizientes und nachhaltiges Bauen“ an der Technischen Universität München (TUM) und arbeitete anschließend als Berater für nachhaltiges Bauen. 2024 schloss er seine Promotion an der TUM ab und trat danach dem CEA im Rahmen des SWIRCULAR-Projekts bei, wo er Forschungsaktivitäten zu digitalen Produktpässen und Informationsmanagement für das zirkuläre Bauen leitet.

Damien Chevalier - Losinger Marazzi

Losinger Marazzi hat uns im Februar 2025 kontaktiert, um unserem Komitee beizutreten. Als führendes Bauunternehmen in der Schweiz engagiert es sich aktiv für die Kreislaufwirtschaft mit mehreren Wiederverwendungs- und Ingenieurprojekten. Als Dachorganisation für Wiederverwendung freuen wir uns über ihre Unterstützung und ihre Kandidatur für das Cirkla-Komitee 2025. Ihr Damien Chevalier wird einen wertvollen Beitrag zu den Strategien der Vereinigung leisten und sich bei der Generalversammlung vorstellen.

Olivier de Perrot - Salza

Olivier is a qualified architect ETH SIA. With his architectural office "Olivier de Perrot Architecture" in Zurich, he shapes projects for the conversion and new construction of single-family and multi-family houses, gastronomy buildings as well as settlement design and district planning. With the internet platform "Salza" he wants to promote and further advance the reuse of building components in Swiss architecture and design.

Management

Sarah Ackermann - Coordinator

Christine Megert - Administration

Lydia Shuker - Accountant (Overall Foundation)

Documents
2022 Annual Report
Includes an overview of activities during the reporting period, financial results, and the approved budget for the following year 2023.
2020 and 2021 Annual Report
Includes an overview of activities during the reporting period, financial results, and the approved budget for the following year 2022.
Statutes of the association
This document establishes the legal framework for the Cirkla Association, including the objectives and responsibilities of the operational bodies, including the Board of Directors and the Annual General Meeting.
Manifesto
We call on all players in the construction industry to join us in spreading these values and implementing this manifesto.