MOOC ETH in Regenerative Materials and Construction

The Massive Open Online Course in Regenerative Materials and Construction (MOOC ReMat) is a free open access online course aiming to introduce the basis of regenerative sustainability in the construction domain, guiding the audience through an overview of its construction materials and techniques.

With a specific focus on solutions suitable for rapidly urbanizing contexts, such as the African, Asian and Latin American continents, it offers a combination of theoretical and practical inputs and interviews with practitioners from Europe and beyond. The materials and technologies explored over the modules are: earth, bamboo, bio-​based as timber and straw, and waste-​based, both in their characterization and in their potential application and benefits.

The course targets all professionals involved in the construction supply and development, such as architects and engineers, builders, material producers, technical personnel, and city officers, with an interest in sustainability in the construction domain from an environmental, economic and social perspective.

The content is proposed in a hybrid learning format, which combines video input, complementary text, and active learning exercises to keep the audience engaged. It is organized over five modules:

• MODULE 1: Regenerative Sustainability in Construction
• MODULE 2: Earth-based materials
• MODULE 3: Bio-based Structural - Timber and Bamboo
• MODULE 4: Bio-based Non-structural - Straw, Hemp, and More
• MODULE 5: Material Characterization and Behavior

Interviews and guest speakers:

In addition to the knowledge of the Chair of Sustainable Constructions and from our parterns from Amàco and INBAR, we have teamed up with professionals from the sector and academia. You’ll hear from them in our short interviews, and through their own guest inputs:

The course guest speakers list include scientists, practitioners, producers, and more, such as:

• Martin Rauch, founder of Lehm Ton Erde and internationally renowned as a leading expert in the field of rammed earth construction
• Luis Felipe Lopez, technology director of the BASE Bahay Innovation Center with focus on bamboo-based and other alternative building technologies.
• Prof. Lola Ben Alon, Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP and director of the Natural Materials Lab and the Building Tech curriculum.
• Laurent de Wurstemberger, Co-Founder Terrabloc - Producer of earth-based construction products,
  
  as well as: Johann Baar from Hilti Foundation, Prof. Lola Ben-Alon from Columbia GSAPP, Studio Hammer, Felix Hilgert from LEHMAG AG, Prof. Dr. Mu Jun from Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Martin Mackowitz from Lehm Ton Erde (LTE), BC materials, Prof. Dominique Gauzin-Muller, Dr. David Trujillo from Coventry University / Atelier One, Dr. Michael Klippel and Dr. Tobias Luthe, ETH Zurich, Prof. Francesco Pittau from Politecnico di Milano and Alejandro Montes González from COAA.

And while you wait for the course to be finally – and soon! – online, here some more snaps to get a taste of it!

Certificate

No certificate will be issued at the end of the course, and no ECTs (academic credits) can be obtained by concluding the course. We hope that this introductory and light course will interest and motivate you to embark in a more detailed program.
Remember that the construction practice comes with civil responsibilities: always assess your knowledge and make sure you comply with all the local norms.

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