Digital "Cradle to Cradle®" - Integrated Inventory-Based Digital Twin for Circular Kitchens

AI Quick Summary

In preparation of the implementation of the Digital Product Passport, Nomol AG is proposing a digital twin for circular kitchens. We believe that digitalization in reuse must start with an informed deconstruction, and we plan to build a digital cradle-to-cradle environment that seamlessly integrates in state-of-the-art 3D modeling software and thus augments conventional kitchen planning with information about origin, form, availability, location, status, condition, pricing, and compatibility of components. This will enable a real time matchmaking between kitchen planner and components, finally leading to automatic generation of cost estimation, planning documents and CNC fabrication data -the latter to standardise the processing of unique and idiosyncratic reused objects.In a subsequent phase, the developed framework can be made available to other de/construction industries, fostering real-time data exchange between all associated parties. ____What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?The process of creating a comprehensive pipeline for the reuse of high-quality Forster steel kitchens is a multifaceted journey, as it entails the following steps: locating suitable objects, inventories, careful disassembly and transport, cleaning, refurbishing, re-planning and -combining, transport to destination and re-assembly. All these steps present significant logistical challenges, particularly in the context of larger-scale projects. Given the complexity of the non-standardized nature of reuse objects and large quantities of kitchen mining possibilities, swift identification, digitalisation and continuous tracking from first contact on is essential to avoid errors downstream in component storage, refurbishment, planning and re-assembly.____What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem?The company Nomol AG was founded on the principle of extending the lifespan of high-quality building components by reusing steel kitchens instead of recycling them after their initial use. By developing circular business models and specialized knowledge and processes, the goal is to streamline reuse to ultimately adapt to the current buyer competences and for higher scalability.Forster steel kitchens are well-known for their durability and resilience, yet their carbon footprint is far from optimal. This initiative strives to set benchmarks for circular processing and fabrication and thus make high quality kitchens available at low environmental impact.The proposed digital twin for circular kitchens aims to ensure a controlled handling of all kitchen components, from first disassembly to final refurbishment in real-world conditions. Nomol AG seeks in the first years to refurbish over 100 kitchens annually, with a projected CO2 reduction of around 200 tons per year. The object-based data approach extends a digital and unique identifier (DPP) with a digital cradle to cradle environment to track and work with components throughout their second, third, and potentially fourth life cycles.To enhance usability, our toolset will be integrated into the widely used and industry-leading 3D modeling program RhinoD, which enables a single-source-of-truth data connection to the underlying inventory database while enabling visual collaboration with customers. Queries for costs, availability, location, damages, coatings, and other attributes guarantee a reliable planning process and are easily visualizable for quicker planning iterations. Finally, the configuration choices and reservations made during the planning process are communicated back to the inventory, ensuring a precise digital mirror of the physical inventory, even during phases of increased turnover.Technological advancements will play a crucial role in managing complexity and reducing the cost of reused building components, fostering greater acceptance and trust in the reused building components process, and accelerating the transition to a more circular construction economy.____How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (e.g., circularity, reducing waste, improving health, creating opportunities)The sole purpose of Nomol AG is to promote the reuse of high-quality building components as good practice in the construction industry and thereby make a significant contribution to the ecological and social transformation of the sector. It develops and operates innovative, circular business models and processes for the recovery, processing and reuse of building components with the aim of extending the life of resources and creating a sustainable alternative to new production and disposal.Upscaling the reuse of high quality metal kitchens can have a high impact and best practice on the broad network of circularity focused companies and beyond. Developing a framework to quickly handle the complex data structures of applied reuse projects, it can spread to other product streams and niches, then to the building industry at large - finally contributing to making reused building components more visible, reliable and socially accepted.____What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (e.g., feasibility testing, prototype development, testing desirability)During the booster program, we will focus on the following topics:Develop a prototype of the software framework in RhinoD, Grasshopper, and Python, preferably through applied object user data.Establish a bi-directional connection between the framework in RhinoD and our digital inventory database in Airtable through Python.Create a toolset to quickly visualize inventory data on 3D kitchen elements in RhinoDGenerate cost estimates for kitchen elements based on inventory attributes. Combine these to create a cost estimate for a full kitchen project.Finally, generate production-informed data for the fabrication of fitting pieces, modular table tops, and alternative front panels.During the development of the software framework, we will collaborate closely with research and implementation partners to beta test, evaluate, and challenge our toolkit.The ultimate objective for the booster period is to assess the efficacy of our framework through its application in a real-world project. Each process step will be supported by our framework, and additional kitchen parts will be fabricated using the CNC infrastructure of our implementation partner.We are confident that this framework will enhance our planning speed and accuracy and help us track the substantial kitchen component turnover that lies ahead of us. This enhanced digital stability and precision will serve as a foundation for reducing planning and operational time, streamlining the future of BIM compatible workflows based on urban mined resources.____Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?There are numerous kitchen software packages available. Also inventory databases for re-used materials are getting more and more common. Linking the two and creating an inventory-aware design software for circular kitchens has never been done so far.____Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring?Nomol AG (Team Lead and Implementation)Nomol AG is a Basel based start-up which promotes the reuse of high-quality building components as good practice in the construction industry and thereby make a significant contribution to the ecological and social transformation of the sector.Barbara Buser (Re-use Expert): Advisor - Process, Business and Product DevelopmentFélix Dillmann (Architect & Urbanist): Process, Business and Product DevelopmentDominik Nüssen (Architect): Computational Design, Data Management, CNC FabricationHerzog & de Meuron (Implementation partner)Herzog & de Meuron is an international architectural practice based in Basel, Switzerland. Its Design Technologies Department supports the project teams with the implementation of digital tools and processes, such as digital and networked models, quantitative frameworks through simulations and analyses, virtual and augmented reality as well as digital fabrication. Michael Drobnik (Associate, Lead Design Technologies)Chair of Built Heritage & Upcycling, Universität Lichtenstein (University partner)The chair of Prof Dr Daniel Stockhammer 'Built Heritage & Upcycling' deals with resources, materials, conservation strategies and circular construction. Various principles are investigated and methods researched to promote the circular construction industry. In particular, the digitisation and reuse of building components.Prof. Dr Daniel Stockhammer (Head of the Institute of Architecture and Spatial Development, Professor of Building Culture and Circular Construction, Member of the Rectorate of the University of Liechtenstein)M. Sc. Arch. ARB IARB SIA Piotr Piotrowski (PhD student at the Institute for Architecture and Spatial Development at the University of Liechtenstein, partner at CROPKA architects, project manager and BIM manager at Schneider & Schneider)____How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required?The research partner will provide consulting time in kind, as well as the implementation partner providing the 10% 3rd party funding amount through CNC machine time, knowledge in software development and technical support.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Digital "Cradle to Cradle®" - Integrated Inventory-Based Digital Twin for Circular Kitchens
• Date: 4/7/2025 10:10:03 PM
• Administrators:
  • Dominik Nüssen

Project Idea Description

____

What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?

The process of creating a comprehensive pipeline for the reuse of high-quality Forster steel kitchens is a multifaceted journey, as it entails the following steps: locating suitable objects, inventories, careful disassembly and transport, cleaning, refurbishing, re-planning and -combining, transport to destination and re-assembly. All these steps present significant logistical challenges, particularly in the context of larger-scale projects. Given the complexity of the non-standardized nature of reuse objects and large quantities of kitchen mining possibilities, swift identification, digitalisation and continuous tracking from first contact on is essential to avoid errors downstream in component storage, refurbishment, planning and re-assembly.

____

What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem?

The company Nomol AG was founded on the principle of extending the lifespan of high-quality building components by reusing steel kitchens instead of recycling them after their initial use. By developing circular business models and specialized knowledge and processes, the goal is to streamline reuse to ultimately adapt to the current buyer competences and for higher scalability.

Forster steel kitchens are well-known for their durability and resilience, yet their carbon footprint is far from optimal. This initiative strives to set benchmarks for circular processing and fabrication and thus make high quality kitchens available at low environmental impact.

The proposed digital twin for circular kitchens aims to ensure a controlled handling of all kitchen components, from first disassembly to final refurbishment in real-world conditions. Nomol AG seeks in the first years to refurbish over 100 kitchens annually, with a projected CO2 reduction of around 200 tons per year. The object-based data approach extends a digital and unique identifier (DPP) with a digital cradle to cradle environment to track and work with components throughout their second, third, and potentially fourth life cycles.

To enhance usability, our toolset will be integrated into the widely used and industry-leading 3D modeling program RhinoD, which enables a single-source-of-truth data connection to the underlying inventory database while enabling visual collaboration with customers. Queries for costs, availability, location, damages, coatings, and other attributes guarantee a reliable planning process and are easily visualizable for quicker planning iterations. Finally, the configuration choices and reservations made during the planning process are communicated back to the inventory, ensuring a precise digital mirror of the physical inventory, even during phases of increased turnover.

Technological advancements will play a crucial role in managing complexity and reducing the cost of reused building components, fostering greater acceptance and trust in the reused building components process, and accelerating the transition to a more circular construction economy.

____

How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (e.g., circularity, reducing waste, improving health, creating opportunities)

The sole purpose of Nomol AG is to promote the reuse of high-quality building components as good practice in the construction industry and thereby make a significant contribution to the ecological and social transformation of the sector. It develops and operates innovative, circular business models and processes for the recovery, processing and reuse of building components with the aim of extending the life of resources and creating a sustainable alternative to new production and disposal.

Upscaling the reuse of high quality metal kitchens can have a high impact and best practice on the broad network of circularity focused companies and beyond. Developing a framework to quickly handle the complex data structures of applied reuse projects, it can spread to other product streams and niches, then to the building industry at large - finally contributing to making reused building components more visible, reliable and socially accepted.

____

What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (e.g., feasibility testing, prototype development, testing desirability)

During the booster program, we will focus on the following topics:

• Develop a prototype of the software framework in RhinoD, Grasshopper, and Python, preferably through applied object user data.
• Establish a bi-directional connection between the framework in RhinoD and our digital inventory database in Airtable through Python.
• Create a toolset to quickly visualize inventory data on 3D kitchen elements in RhinoD
• Generate cost estimates for kitchen elements based on inventory attributes. Combine these to create a cost estimate for a full kitchen project.
• Finally, generate production-informed data for the fabrication of fitting pieces, modular table tops, and alternative front panels.

During the development of the software framework, we will collaborate closely with research and implementation partners to beta test, evaluate, and challenge our toolkit.

The ultimate objective for the booster period is to assess the efficacy of our framework through its application in a real-world project. Each process step will be supported by our framework, and additional kitchen parts will be fabricated using the CNC infrastructure of our implementation partner.

We are confident that this framework will enhance our planning speed and accuracy and help us track the substantial kitchen component turnover that lies ahead of us. This enhanced digital stability and precision will serve as a foundation for reducing planning and operational time, streamlining the future of BIM compatible workflows based on urban mined resources.

____

Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?

There are numerous kitchen software packages available. Also inventory databases for re-used materials are getting more and more common. Linking the two and creating an inventory-aware design software for circular kitchens has never been done so far.

____

Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring?

Nomol AG (Team Lead and Implementation)

Nomol AG is a Basel based start-up which promotes the reuse of high-quality building components as good practice in the construction industry and thereby make a significant contribution to the ecological and social transformation of the sector.

• Barbara Buser (Re-use Expert): Advisor - Process, Business and Product Development
• Félix Dillmann (Architect & Urbanist): Process, Business and Product Development
• Dominik Nüssen (Architect): Computational Design, Data Management, CNC Fabrication

Herzog & de Meuron (Implementation partner)

Herzog & de Meuron is an international architectural practice based in Basel, Switzerland. Its Design Technologies Department supports the project teams with the implementation of digital tools and processes, such as digital and networked models, quantitative frameworks through simulations and analyses, virtual and augmented reality as well as digital fabrication.

• Michael Drobnik (Associate, Lead Design Technologies)

Chair of Built Heritage & Upcycling, Universität Lichtenstein (University partner)

The chair of Prof Dr Daniel Stockhammer 'Built Heritage & Upcycling' deals with resources, materials, conservation strategies and circular construction. Various principles are investigated and methods researched to promote the circular construction industry. In particular, the digitisation and reuse of building components.

• Prof. Dr Daniel Stockhammer (Head of the Institute of Architecture and Spatial Development, Professor of Building Culture and Circular Construction, Member of the Rectorate of the University of Liechtenstein)
• M. Sc. Arch. ARB IARB SIA Piotr Piotrowski (PhD student at the Institute for Architecture and Spatial Development at the University of Liechtenstein, partner at CROPKA architects, project manager and BIM manager at Schneider & Schneider)

____

How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required?

The research partner will provide consulting time in kind, as well as the implementation partner providing the 10% 3rd party funding amount through CNC machine time, knowledge in software development and technical support.

In preparation of the implementation of the Digital Product Passport, Nomol AG is proposing a digital twin for circular kitchens. We believe that digitalization in reuse must start with an informed deconstruction, and we plan to build a digital cradle-to-cradle environment that seamlessly integrates in state-of-the-art 3D modeling software and thus augments conventional kitchen planning with information about origin, form, availability, location, status, condition, pricing, and compatibility of components. This will enable a real time matchmaking between kitchen planner and components, finally leading to automatic generation of cost estimation, planning documents and CNC fabrication data -the latter to standardise the processing of unique and idiosyncratic reused objects.

In a subsequent phase, the developed framework can be made available to other de/construction industries, fostering real-time data exchange between all associated parties.