The Swiss breakthrough: hempcrete and low carbon emissions
In the Swiss canton of St. Gallen, the hemp building in Widnau is a four-story residential building that was built on the initiative of Andy Keel, director of Openly, with the aim of proving that it is possible to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the construction industry. The exterior walls are made of a wooden frame structure and hempcrete (a mixture of hemp and lime), while the stairwells are made of low-carbon concrete. These innovative solutions have halved the building's ecological footprint compared to conventional buildings. Although construction was 20% more expensive, the investors financed the additional costs, which clearly indicates that a commitment to sustainability is increasingly considered a worthwhile investment. The article also looks to the future.
Switzerland is constantly looking for innovations in construction. At the NEST research center in the suburbs of Zurich, for example, researchers are developing more environmentally friendly concepts and materials, such as bricks made from milk cartons, which instead of ending up in the trash become useful building materials.
Many of the sustainable materials developed at the center are already available on the market, but it is not easy to arouse customer interest. "The construction industry is reluctant to take risks today because players invest a lot of money in the long term. Here we try to show how these new materials and concepts work in reality," explained Reto Largo, director of NEST.
MG Architectural Office: the renaissance of adobe
As a member of the Archenerg-Metál Cluster, MG Architectural Office is also pursuing sustainable building materials, with a particular focus on adobe and clay. The office aims to reinterpret adobe as a traditional material in line with 21st-century construction industry expectations.
One of MG Architectural Office's main projects is the development of ECOBRICK earth bricks and the ECO Building System masonry system. The goal is to produce an environmentally friendly building material that is manufactured without firing, i.e., without CO2 emissions, and whose mechanical properties far exceed those of traditional adobe bricks. ECOBRICK is a high-pressure pressed brick covered with crushed stone and straw, making it more resistant to water and erosion. Furthermore, the use of local raw materials minimizes the environmental impact of transportation.
The firm demonstrates its commitment to sustainable construction in practice, as exemplified by the renovation of the Bagolyvár Fogadó in Zirc. In the case of this historic building, modern architectural solutions were combined with traditional adobe technologies during the renovation, preserving the original character of the building while making it suitable for 21st-century requirements with energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. This project is a prime example of how the architectural heritage of the past can become the basis for sustainable construction in the future.
Cooperation for the future
The Swiss example and the developments of MG Építész Iroda in Hungary clearly show that sustainable architecture is not just a theoretical concept, but a feasible and effective solution in the fight against climate change. We believe that the buildings of the future will be created not at the expense of the environment, but in cooperation with it.
As a member of the Archenerg-Metál Cluster, we are looking for partners to implement environmentally friendly architectural innovations and projects. If you are also committed to sustainability and want to realize the architecture of the future, join us and let's build a greener future together!