CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials - Essentials
earth. bio-based. reused
You want to learn the essential knowledge on the use of earth, bio-based, and reused building materials?
This programme offers solid knowledge and the latest developments in the field using innovative teaching practices with participative methods, experimental lectures, hands-on exercises, visits to inspiring projects and project-based learning.
Next edition: January - June 2027 (Spring Semester).
The application window will close on the 15.11.2026.
We encourage you to take part in the next Online Open Doors:
- Tuesday, 10.11.2026 at 17:30 (UTC+1) - external page register now
Please note: You will receive the link to participate after registration.
Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates.
Five Modules on Regenerative Materials
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 page Video 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 page Video of Module 2 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external page Video 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 page Video of Module 3 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external page Video 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 page Video of Module 4 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external page Video 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 with the support of external consultants.
The work of each group is presented to a panel of experts during a final review on the last day.
external page Video of Module 5 - CAS-RM-Ess-21
external page Video of Project exercise - CAS-RM-Ess-23
Details of this Continuing Education Programme
The CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials - Essentials 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 objective is to develop participants' competence to conduct complex projects considering the specificities of these low-carbon materials: resource availability, material supply, implementation, adapted architectural design, material properties, construction cost and planning, end-of-life, etc.
As part-time training, this continuing education programme 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, members of city technical services or NGOs.
In total, between 15 and 18 participants from Switzerland and abroad will be selected. This relatively small group allows active interactions and personal engagement of the participants.
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.
Duration: 1 semester, from January to June (Spring semester), annually.
The four fist modules represents 2 ECTS and the project exercise of the last module represents 4 ECTS. In total, this programme corresponds to 12 ECTS. There is no workload between the modules.
The programme uses innovative teaching practices with participative methods, experimental lectures, hands-on exercises, visits to inspiring projects, and project-based learning. Each module combines the following activities:
Lectures: Input lectures from well-known specialists gives an overview on the most innovative recent developements. Some online lectures are opened to a large audience to support public awareness (see our dedicated webpage).
Hands-on: These exercises are a great opportunity to put hands-on with construction materials. Experimentations on natural fibers, earth or reused/reclaimed materials allow a deep understanding of the main properties and specificities of these materials and corresponding building systems.
Visits: Visits to exemplary buildings using regenerative materials is one of the most inspiring way to engage in regenerative construction. Those visits are conducted by the stakeholders involved in their realisation.
Group exercises: Group work strenghen the interactions within participants. They focus on realistic calls for tenders placing the students into a real-life professional situation.
ETH teaching partners :
- Prof. Dr. Guillaume Habert - Programme Director
- Prof. Dr. Bryan Adey - Deputy Programme Director
- Dr. Arnaud Evrard - Programme Coordinator
- Prof. Dr. Catherine De Wolf
- Prof. Dr. Silke Langenberg
- Prof. Roger Boltshauser
- Prof. Dr Andrea Frangi
- Prof. Dr. Michael Klippel
- Dr. Tobias Luthe
International teaching partners (non exhaustive list, depending on each edition) :
- Prof. Dr. Corentin Fivet, EPFL (Switzerland)
- Prof. Dominique Gauzin-Müller, UNESCO-earth chair (Germany)
- Prof. Dr. Sophie Claude, INSA Toulouse (France)
- Prof. Eike Roswag, TU Berlin (Germany)
- Prof. Andrea Klinge, FHNW (Switzerland)
- Prof. Dr Christof Ziegert, ZRS Berlin (Germany)
- Dr. Laetitia Fontaine, amàco (France)
- Werner Schmidt, Atelier Schmidt GMBH (Switzerland)
- Nicolas Coeckelberghs, BC Materials (Belgium)
- Renaud Haerlingen, ROTOR (Belgium)
- Marc Angst, Zirkular (Switzerland)
- Michael Wick, Wick Reuse(Switzerland)
- ...
Partners of this programme:
(Direct financial support & material supply for Hands-on)
- Alexandre Akchoti, external page Structura C (Switzerland): Promoting Hemp- and Lime-based materials
Other partners:
(No honorary)
- Thomas Reiner, external page ERNE (Switzerland)
- Letizia Caderas, external page Oxara (Switzerland)
- Ulrich Röhlen, external page Claytech (Germany)
- Alexandre Akchoti, external page Structura C (Switzerland)
- Christian Roggeman, external page Gramitherm(Belgium/Switzerland)
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.
The application window will open on the 15.10.2026 and will be closed by 15.11.2026.
We encourage you to take part in the Online Open Doors.
- Thursday, 29.10.2026 at 17:30 (CEST) - external page register now
Link to programme description: School for Continuing Education of ETH.
Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive monthly updates !
Subscribe to our Newsletter "Regenerative Materials"
Contact
Inst. Bau-&Infrastrukturmanagement
Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5
8093
Zürich
Switzerland