MODULAR GEOMETRIES IN REUSE

AI Quick Summary

Our vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable construction system using concrete elements recovered from dismantled buildings. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we will facilitate the interchangeability and compatibility of these elements and their reuse across multiple building applications, varying in function, geometric configuration and scale of construction. Short Project Idea DescriptionOur vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable construction system using concrete elements recovered from dismantled buildings. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we will facilitate the interchangeability and compatibility of these elements and their reuse across multiple building applications, varying in function, geometric configuration and scale of construction.1. What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address? (max. 50 words)Concrete elements recovered through urban mining are currently treated as unique, project-specific parts, which limits broader implementation and multiple-loop reuse. By standardizing their geometry, blocks from diverse sources can be combined into a universal and modular system, simplifying planning and handling, thereby enabling the effective scaling of reuse.2. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? (max. 200 words)Our vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable system using reused concrete elements considering every stage from extraction and handling to transport, future construction potential and design. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we aim to maximise the “no end of life” reusability of these elements across multiple buildings lifecycles, allowing for varied functions and placements within different geometric arrangements.This innovative approach simplifies design and logistics, significantly reducing the complexity, cost, and time involved in planning reuse-projects. Leveraging established proportion systems such as the golden ratio, Japanese traditional measurements, Fibonacci sequence, and DIN standards, we seek to optimize element extraction, material reuse, and architectural integration-both functionally and aesthetically.Primary beneficiaries include construction companies, architects, engineers and urban planners, all of whom gain improved efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and cost savings. Ultimately, cities and communities will benefit through enhanced sustainability, reduced waste and reduced material consumption.Possible applications include load-bearing walls, slabs, stair steps, floor elements, sound barriers, garden slabs, privacy walls, urban furniture.3. How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (max. 100 words)Our approach advances circular economy principles by reducing construction waste, conserving resources, and lowering emissions associated with new material production. It promotes healthier urban environments through reduced demolition impacts, creates economic opportunities by streamlining reuse processes, and fosters educational innovations. Standardized modularity and scalability also support greater flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in construction projects. As the project is not only oriented towards functionality but also incorporates architectural and building cultural values.4. 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? (max. 200 words)We aim to test assumptions regarding optimal standardized measurements, compatibility across diverse projects, and the feasibility of integrating traditional measurement systems into modern modular practices. Within the project “Modular Geometries in Reuse”, elements geometries are theoretically developed from criteria of cross-sectional planning, efficient utilization, reuse logistics, future construction potentials and multiloop capability.The applicability of these concepts is tested on two real case studies of “source” buildings, for which dismantling and reuse of concrete parts are foreseen. The “source” buildings incorporate different geometric challenges: (1) a relatively standard building with orthogonal, repeat arrangement of spaces and load-bearing system; (2) and a building with non-orthogonal arrangement and more pronounced geometric variations. In parallel, the potential of multiloop reuse of the modular kit in the practice will be assessed by preliminary designing (geometric, constructive and static aspect) several possible applications for structural, architectural and decorative elements.Our goal is to provide a guideline-paper which illustrates the validated scalable framework, including geometrical arrangements and sketches of applications and sectional plans of buildings demonstrating implementations in different architectural typologies.5. Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? (max. 100 words)Our idea has not yet been tested. Related studies have been conducted by Adrian Kiesel (ZHAW Architektur, Gestaltung und Bauingenieurwesen) and Angelika Mettke, who investigated individual applications of standardized measurements and modular reuse concepts, showing the potential for improved efficiency and sustainability. With the support of canton Vaud, an interdisciplinary team of enterprises, engineers and architects is testing the use of stone and concrete blocks to create a modular system for slabs in buildings.Our approach will build on these insights, focusing specifically on comprehensive integration, universal compatibility, scalability, and aesthetic coherence across diverse construction contexts and applications.6. Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? (max. 150 words)HSLU – DFK: Cornelia Gassler contributes expertise in product and material design, focusing on microscale perspectives. HSLU – T&A: Nicole Hartmann, specializing in interior architecture, provides knowledge on scaling for diverse applications, optimal material utilization, and proportional aesthetics. Studio Urbane Landschaften GmbH (Implementation partner): Gaetano Castiello, Architect ETH SIA, offers architectural and urban planning insights essential for practical implementation, structural feasibility, and urban integration. HEIA-FR - iTEC: Prof. Dario Redaelli, Professor at Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Fribourg, provides additional expertise in structural engineering, structural concrete and reusable load-bearing systems.7. How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? (max. 100 words)We have several options to secure the 10% third-party funding, by presenting our idea to :cantonal administrations which strongly promote reuse practices (FR, BS, LU), and with which we already have established contacts;concrete trade associations, such as the swiss cement (CEMSUISSE) or the swiss concrete (BETONSUISSE) industry ;precast concrete companies which will be interested in the industrialisation of our solution, such as ELEMENT AG in Tafers (FR) or CREABETON AG in Rickenbach (LU).

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: MODULAR GEOMETRIES IN REUSE
• Date: 4/8/2025 11:41:36 AM
• Administrators:
  • Dario Redaelli

Project Idea Description

Short Project Idea Description

Our vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable construction system using concrete elements recovered from dismantled buildings. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we will facilitate the interchangeability and compatibility of these elements and their reuse across multiple building applications, varying in function, geometric configuration and scale of construction.

1. What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address? (max. 50 words)

Concrete elements recovered through urban mining are currently treated as unique, project-specific parts, which limits broader implementation and multiple-loop reuse. By standardizing their geometry, blocks from diverse sources can be combined into a universal and modular system, simplifying planning and handling, thereby enabling the effective scaling of reuse.

2. What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? (max. 200 words)

Our vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable system using reused concrete elements considering every stage from extraction and handling to transport, future construction potential and design. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we aim to maximise the “no end of life” reusability of these elements across multiple buildings lifecycles, allowing for varied functions and placements within different geometric arrangements.

This innovative approach simplifies design and logistics, significantly reducing the complexity, cost, and time involved in planning reuse-projects. Leveraging established proportion systems such as the golden ratio, Japanese traditional measurements, Fibonacci sequence, and DIN standards, we seek to optimize element extraction, material reuse, and architectural integration-both functionally and aesthetically.

Primary beneficiaries include construction companies, architects, engineers and urban planners, all of whom gain improved efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and cost savings. Ultimately, cities and communities will benefit through enhanced sustainability, reduced waste and reduced material consumption.

Possible applications include load-bearing walls, slabs, stair steps, floor elements, sound barriers, garden slabs, privacy walls, urban furniture.

3. How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (max. 100 words)

Our approach advances circular economy principles by reducing construction waste, conserving resources, and lowering emissions associated with new material production. It promotes healthier urban environments through reduced demolition impacts, creates economic opportunities by streamlining reuse processes, and fosters educational innovations. Standardized modularity and scalability also support greater flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in construction projects. As the project is not only oriented towards functionality but also incorporates architectural and building cultural values.

4. 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? (max. 200 words)

We aim to test assumptions regarding optimal standardized measurements, compatibility across diverse projects, and the feasibility of integrating traditional measurement systems into modern modular practices.

Within the project “Modular Geometries in Reuse”, elements geometries are theoretically developed from criteria of cross-sectional planning, efficient utilization, reuse logistics, future construction potentials and multiloop capability.

The applicability of these concepts is tested on two real case studies of “source” buildings, for which dismantling and reuse of concrete parts are foreseen. The “source” buildings incorporate different geometric challenges: (1) a relatively standard building with orthogonal, repeat arrangement of spaces and load-bearing system; (2) and a building with non-orthogonal arrangement and more pronounced geometric variations. In parallel, the potential of multiloop reuse of the modular kit in the practice will be assessed by preliminary designing (geometric, constructive and static aspect) several possible applications for structural, architectural and decorative elements.

Our goal is to provide a guideline-paper which illustrates the validated scalable framework, including geometrical arrangements and sketches of applications and sectional plans of buildings demonstrating implementations in different architectural typologies.

5. Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? (max. 100 words)

Our idea has not yet been tested. Related studies have been conducted by Adrian Kiesel (ZHAW Architektur, Gestaltung und Bauingenieurwesen) and Angelika Mettke, who investigated individual applications of standardized measurements and modular reuse concepts, showing the potential for improved efficiency and sustainability. With the support of canton Vaud, an interdisciplinary team of enterprises, engineers and architects is testing the use of stone and concrete blocks to create a modular system for slabs in buildings.

Our approach will build on these insights, focusing specifically on comprehensive integration, universal compatibility, scalability, and aesthetic coherence across diverse construction contexts and applications.

6. Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? (max. 150 words)

HSLU – DFK: Cornelia Gassler contributes expertise in product and material design, focusing on microscale perspectives.

HSLU – T&A: Nicole Hartmann, specializing in interior architecture, provides knowledge on scaling for diverse applications, optimal material utilization, and proportional aesthetics.

Studio Urbane Landschaften GmbH (Implementation partner): Gaetano Castiello, Architect ETH SIA, offers architectural and urban planning insights essential for practical implementation, structural feasibility, and urban integration.

HEIA-FR - iTEC: Prof. Dario Redaelli, Professor at Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Fribourg, provides additional expertise in structural engineering, structural concrete and reusable load-bearing systems.

7. How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? (max. 100 words)

We have several options to secure the 10% third-party funding, by presenting our idea to :

• cantonal administrations which strongly promote reuse practices (FR, BS, LU), and with which we already have established contacts;
• concrete trade associations, such as the swiss cement (CEMSUISSE) or the swiss concrete (BETONSUISSE) industry ;
• precast concrete companies which will be interested in the industrialisation of our solution, such as ELEMENT AG in Tafers (FR) or CREABETON AG in Rickenbach (LU).

Our vision is to create a standardized, modular and scalable construction system using concrete elements recovered from dismantled buildings. By establishing universal geometrical standards, we will facilitate the interchangeability and compatibility of these elements and their reuse across multiple building applications, varying in function, geometric configuration and scale of construction.