CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials - Essentials
earth. bio-based. reused
This programme is structured with five Modules, one week each, distributed over one semester. The Modules cover the essential knowledge on the use of earth, bio-based, and reused building materials, from resource extraction to construction site, building operation and end-of-use of the building materials. It provides the participants with tools and methods to manage projects using these materials with efficiency and creativity in order to contribute to the necessary ecological and social transition in the construction sector.
The programme uses new teaching practices with participative methods, experimental lectures, hands-on exercises, visits to inspiring projects and project-based learning.
For more information, please contact Arnaud Evrard .
DownloadDownload the Leaflet (PDF, 1 MB)
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Description
Regenerative materials come in a wide variety of forms and compositions, from raw materials to industrialized construction systems. Knowing the specificities of these different materials is needed to adopt the appropriate constructive choice adapted to the socio-economic situation of the territory and the resource availability.
external pageVideo of Module 1 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
Objectives
- Learn the diversity of regenerative materials.
- Understand the material through its composition, implementation, LCA analysis, and aesthetic.
- Take inspiration from vernacular architecture: think local - adopt a territorial approach.
- Grasp the fundamental relations existing between a specific construction choice, a level of industrialization, and the material and immaterial resources available on the territory.
- Dare an innovative project which overcomes legislative barriers and involves the inhabitants as early as possible in the design process.
- Learn how to develop solutions to move towards a regenerative architecture.
Description
With its sustainable approach and unique visual expression, earthen construction is attracting attention in contemporary construction. New strategies have been developed for innovation, combining traditional techniques with modern construction systems and new materials, changing the earthen construction paradigm. These constructions with regenerative materials are still challenging with regard to the standards and building codes, but many solutions already exist to fulfill the expectation and ambition to make a different architecture.
external pageVideo of Module 2 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external pageVideo of Hands-on - CAS-RM-Ess-23
Objectives
- Learn the different techniques of earth construction.
- Understand the structural behaviour and the durability risks.
- Define the cost and planning of earth construction.
- Adapt the production process to the project: local resources, production line, prefabrication.
- Gain experience from projects overcoming structural engineering difficulties and the lack of standards.
Description
Lightweight construction correspond to wooden-framed or prefabricated system fulfilled with a lightweight biobased material. Knowing the technical aspects, limitations and solutions, rules, public market, but also building physic is essential for a good conception and the management of the project. A particular understanding of hygrothermal behaviour is needed in order to propose the appropriate construction assembly.
external pageVideo of Module 3 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external pageVideo of Hands-on - CAS-RM-Ess-23
Objectives
- Know the different techniques of lightweight construction and good practices to prevent future disorders.
- Understand the specific thermal and hygrothermal behaviour.
- Define the cost and planning strategies.
- Know the recent development of lightweight materials.
- Identify the challenges for the organization of bio-material supply chain in a territory.
Description
New construction represents only one percent of construction per year in European countries. Re-valuing the existing building stock is therefore a priority. For heritage conservation as well as for energy retrofit of badly insulated dwellings, using regenerative materials represents a promising solution. When demolishing or refurbishing existing buildings, the low reuse and relatively low recycling rates reflect a number of barriers to recycling and reuse that have to be challenged.
external pageVideo of Module 4 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external pageVideo of Hands-on - CAS-RM-Ess-23
Objectives
- Adopt a methodology for the retrofit of historic buildings as well as the 1950s to 1980s building stock.
- Understand and manage the moisture risks when retrofitting buildings.
- Know the biobased insulation market.
- Practice deconstruction of an existing building, from dismantling to reuse.
- Challenge the conventional building design to maximize its potential for later reuse.
Description
The last module of this CAS consists in a group project exercise, where the participants work on a real-case renovation project.
The work of each group is presented to a panel of experts during a final review on the last day.
external pageVideo of Module 5 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external pageVideo of Project exercise - CAS-RM-Ess-23
ETH Teaching Board :
- Prof. Dr. Guillaume Habert
- Dr. Arnaud Evrard
- Prof. Dr Andrea Frangi
- Prof. Dr. Michael Klippel
- Prof. Roger Boltshauser
International teaching partners (non exhaustive list) :
- Dr. Romain Anger, amàco (France)
- Dr. Laetitia Fontaine, amàco (France)
- Prof. Dominique Gauzin-Müller, UNESCO-earth chair (Germany)
- Renaud Haerlingen, ROTOR (Belgium)
- Martin Rauch, Lehm Ton Erde (Austria)
- Prof. Eike Roswag, TU Berlin (Germany)
- Prof. Dr Christof Ziegert, ZRS Berlin (Germany)
- Ken de Cooman, BC Architects (Belgium)
- Werner Schmidt, Atelier Schmidt GMBH (Switzerland)
- Prof. Dr. Corentin Fivet, EPFL (Switzerland)
- Prof. Dr Francesco Pittau, Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy)
- Prof. Dr. Sophie Claude, INSA Toulouse (France)
Partner of the programme:
The creation of the CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials has been supported by the external pageRicola Foundation.
One of the main focus of the Ricola Foundation is to improve the people’s quality of life, through initiatives that promote a combination of nature and culture.
Each year, this Foundation is covering the admission fees of three participants with financial difficulties.
For more details about this scholarship, please contact Arnaud Evrard <> before the end of the application window.
The CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials deals with the planning and operation of architectural projects using regenerative materials. It provides the participants with tools and methods to manage projects using earth, bio-based, and reused materials with efficiency and creativity in order to contribute to the necessary ecological and social transition in the construction sector.
The objectives are to teach the specificities of these low-carbon materials (supply, implementation, adapted architectural design, material properties, construction cost and planning, end-of-life, etc.) through practical experiments, inspiring examples (visits and guest lectures), and exercises based on a real case study.
As part-time training, it is geared toward the needs of professionals who want to deepen and question their existing practice in order to develop more regenerative approaches.
The target audience is project managers, building contractors, architects, engineers, or members of city technical services or NGOs.
In total, between 15 and 18 participants from Switzerland and abroad will be accepted.
Language of Instruction: Courses are typically held in English. Visits and discussions with practitioners will be sometimes given in French, German or Italian but will always be translated into English.
Each module with contact hours represents 2 ECTS (participation and exercises supervised by the lecturers or their assistants) and the individual project exercise represents 4 ECTS. In total, the validation of the CAS Regenerative Materials corresponds to 12 ECTS.
The programme uses new teaching practices with participative methods, experimental lectures, hands-on exercises, visits to inspiring projects, and project-based learning:
Hands-on: These exercises are a great opportunity to put hands-on with construction materials. Experimentations on mixes of natural fibers and earth allow a deep understanding of the main properties of these materials.
Visit: Once a week, a visit to exemplary buildings using regenerative materials is organized, valuing some vernacular and contemporary architecture in the surrounding Zürich. Visits are conducted by stakeholders involved in their realisation.
Lecture : input lectures from well-known specialists are opened to a large audience for public awareness.
Project exercise : Group projects focus on realistic calls for tenders placing the students into a real-life professional situation. A special emphasis is placed on these exercises to develop skills and expertise of the particpants.
Application for edition 2024 is now closed.
The application window for the next edition will be opened in November 2024.
Applicants are asked to apply online and to include a motivation letter, a CV and two reference letters. A reference letter corresponds to a recommendation letter preferably written by your current or former employer.
Fees: 8230 CHF. It does not include living expenses.
For more information visit this website.
