On November 24, 2022, Switzerland’s Baumuster-Centrale Zurich, a central repository for construction materials, hosted a vernissage. During the event, attendees were offered insights into the topic “Positions on sustainability: From material to building and back.” A four-part exhibition impressively presented and discussed innovations, sustainable construction materials, and flagship projects.
Grey energy and emissions
The first part, a traveling exhibition by the ETH Material HUB, presented grey energy and the grey emissions per square kilometer contained in a wide variety of building materials. It impressively showed, for example, the impact of reducing from triple to double glazing and which resources should rather be avoided in buildings.
Environmentally friendly products
The second part of the vernissage was prepared in partnership with exhibiting companies and focused on environmentally friendly products. These innovative products for various applications were a source of inspiration and pointed those seeking construction materials in a sustainable direction. Fact sheets encouraged visitors to discover everything from sustainable concrete to clay building block manufacturers and explore new thought processes. Parts three and four of the exhibition consisted of expert interviews and side events.
Nachhaltiges Bauen 
HORTUS: “House of Research, Technology, Utopia, and Sustainability”
After a brief introduction, visitors had the opportunity to meet two of these experts and learn about the “HORTUS” project. Dr. Johannes Eisenhut, the managing director of Senn Development AG in St. Gallen, offered those present on this innovation-rich November evening an introduction to project development. Representing the family business, he gave an insight into the idea behind the “House of Research, Technology, Utopia, and Sustainability,” “HORTUS” in short, and its ingenious naming.
From the building component to the project methodology
The flagship project on the Baselink Areal, “HORTUS” was designed and implemented with ambitious sustainability goals and according to the “cradle-to-cradle” principle. Alexander Franz, an associate at Herzog & de Meuron in Basel, took those present on a journey through the design and planning process behind this impressive building. The component-to-project methodology, well known in circular building, challenged the team of SENN, Herzog & de Meuron, and ZPF-Ingenieure. They began their reflections on the sustainable optimization of the building with the main components. The building’s ceilings made up a large percentage of the volume of “HORTUS,” which led the project team to pursue an unconventional approach, particularly for the ceiling structure: triple-layer panels, solid wood beams, and clay infill to provide thermal mass while at the same time serving as a moisture regulator. In addition, they reduced glass surfaces and selected single-component, fully recyclable construction materials. The planning office Zirkular supported the team in the material research for secondary raw materials. As a result, “HORTUS” will be able to fully compensate for its negative environmental impacts within 30 years, drawing on the solar energy produced by its façade. The creators of the innovative project also compiled a development catalog for its tenants because, here, too, acting in an environmentally friendly way is imperative. Greening the façade using local plants gave rise to a final product that was both well thought out and very attractive.
It was an encouraging evening, with a rich transfer of knowledge, interesting insights, and innovative solutions.
The Baumuster-Centrale Zürich brings together innovative minds that take on challenges surrounding sustainable construction. It was an encouraging evening, with a rich transfer of knowledge, interesting insights, and innovative solutions.
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