Tool Alternatives Bauen

AI Quick Summary

Digitalisation of an advisory process that sensitizes architects and clients to the advantages of alternative building materials and systems, improving the circular economy and accompanies them throughout the entire conception, planning and construction process. In Switzerland, as well as in many other European countries in the building sector we see a strong focus on energy efficiency and operational emissions. This is, among other things, due to calculations that only compare the operating energy and the construction costs, but disregard the gray energy and expenses for choosing non-environmentally friendly local building solutions.As a consequence many renovations and new building projects are carried out with materials based on fossil fuels and long distances. Furthermore, many have high gray emissions incorporated, as for example steel or concrete, materials based on fossil fuels that are often hard to recycle or reuse and will cause fossil emissions in case of incineration. Apart from these aspects of emissions and energy, there are other factors like the capacity to regulate the indoor humidity level, or the contribution to a high thermal comfort level. This can cause additional costs, carry high health risks and cause serious problems like releasing harmful substances during processing that make expensive retrofitting or new construction necessary.The use of alternative, mainly natural based building materials can help to tackle the problems described. Broadening the view to the costs and emissions that occur throughout the life cycle of the building stock underlines the economic advantages of using natural and local materials. This goes hand in hand with the goal of driving the transition to a circular economy and a paradigm shift in society towards an all-embracing approach.The awareness about the responsibility of the building sector and the shift needed is constantly growing and with that our potential clients. Our main target group are builders, professionals, investors and the public sector involved in construction projects. In the beginning we want to focus on Switzerland, as we have our prototype already in place there and have been able to gain initial experience. We see great potential, as the annual turnover of the construction sector in Switzerland is CHF 9.5 billion and a growing proportion of new construction projects are certified, which shows the importance of sustainability in the branch.Possible further target markets for expansion in 2023 are Germany, Italy and Spain.Our mission is to find sustainable building solutions through the use of alternative materials and environmental techniques and to implement these.A wide variety of options already exist. However, these are not yet anchored in widespread awareness. Therefore, as a first step, it is necessary to take measures to make building owners, investors and architects aware of these possibilities of innovation. We would like to address this with the services we have developed. We want to show building owners and planners the advantages of alternative building materials and encourage them to rethink the building process. With the help of a digital map of references and potentials, we will show examples of sustainable and highly aesthetic architecture that can be created using different materials and what potential lies behind low carbon footprint solutions.We then offer consulting and the creation of a material concept in order to transfer the new approaches into the building reality.By supervising the tendering and construction process, we ensure that this is carried out and that we can incorporate important experience from the entire process into future projects.Our offer thus covers the entire construction process, but also takes into account the future stages of operation and deconstruction.We are aiming at establishing a conscious and future-oriented lifestyle and to build adequately for it. For buildings that contribute equally to the global climate and the indoor climate.Requests from clients and a raising awareness in the architectural scene made us certain that there is an opportunity in developing a service, which responds to these needs. In the last two year we were applying a service which is comparable to the one we developed but using different, more individual tools and concepts. We use it as a prototype to test out different variations and ideas and to figure out what the main challenges are for the construction professionals.Trained and experienced in different fields in the building sector we are a diverse team, motivated to change the way we build:Jordan Kouto - Founder, Construction Manager and Building Biologist Foundation of Kouto Alternatives BauenWorkshops on earth building, circular building, building change, design thinking and ecobauWork as a building physicist, building pollutant diagnostician.Board member and regional leader of the Ticino regional group of the Baubioswiss associationFederal certificate as a building biologist from the Bildungszentrum Baubiologie ZurichWork as a construction foreman and site manager in Switzerland and NepalTechnical college for building construction in Trevano, SwitzerlandApprenticeship as a bricklayerLeon Beck - Architect and Alternative building advocateWork as architect in GermanyBSC in architecture from the ETH ZurichCo-founding of the ’AGN‘ working group for sustainability at the department of architecture at the ETH ZurichTeaching assistant of the block research group at the ETH ZurichEngagement in the Student Sustainability Commission at the ETH Zurich in the fields of food, divestment, real estate and climate neutralityCarolina Goijman - Architect and Builder specialized in sustainable and natural buildingWork and volunteer in several projects on sustainable architecture and permaculture in Latinamerica and Eupe with a special focus on natural materials, upcycling, re-use and co-creation with local communities.Graduated in architecture from the University of Buenos AiresWith the help of the Joincreate funding we will be able to develop a prototype of the tool including a database and to bring it to the market, starting in Switzerland by the end of 2022. We are looking forward to bringing tools with natural building materials and environmental solutions to the construction industry and building bridges between them to be used in construction projects.To achieve that we expect from the programme, besides financial support, to gain feedback from experts in the field of natural building materials and circular economy to expand our database and to connect people, alternative materials and systems. Furthermore we are happy about consulting in the field of business development, finance and communication as well as access to a network valuable for scaling up the service.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Tool Alternatives Bauen
Date: 3/23/2022 5:16:26 PM
Administrators:
- Jordan Kouto

Project Idea Description

In Switzerland, as well as in many other European countries in the building sector we see a strong focus on energy efficiency and operational emissions. This is, among other things, due to calculations that only compare the operating energy and the construction costs, but disregard the gray energy and expenses for choosing non-environmentally friendly local building solutions.

As a consequence many renovations and new building projects are carried out with materials based on fossil fuels and long distances. Furthermore, many have high gray emissions incorporated, as for example steel or concrete, materials based on fossil fuels that are often hard to recycle or reuse and will cause fossil emissions in case of incineration.

Apart from these aspects of emissions and energy, there are other factors like the capacity to regulate the indoor humidity level, or the contribution to a high thermal comfort level.

This can cause additional costs, carry high health risks and cause serious problems like releasing harmful substances during processing that make expensive retrofitting or new construction necessary.

The use of alternative, mainly natural based building materials can help to tackle the problems described. Broadening the view to the costs and emissions that occur throughout the life cycle of the building stock underlines the economic advantages of using natural and local materials. This goes hand in hand with the goal of driving the transition to a circular economy and a paradigm shift in society towards an all-embracing approach.

The awareness about the responsibility of the building sector and the shift needed is constantly growing and with that our potential clients. Our main target group are builders, professionals, investors and the public sector involved in construction projects. In the beginning we want to focus on Switzerland, as we have our prototype already in place there and have been able to gain initial experience. We see great potential, as the annual turnover of the construction sector in Switzerland is CHF 9.5 billion and a growing proportion of new construction projects are certified, which shows the importance of sustainability in the branch.

Possible further target markets for expansion in 2023 are Germany, Italy and Spain.

Our mission is to find sustainable building solutions through the use of alternative materials and environmental techniques and to implement these.

A wide variety of options already exist. However, these are not yet anchored in widespread awareness. Therefore, as a first step, it is necessary to take measures to make building owners, investors and architects aware of these possibilities of innovation. We would like to address this with the services we have developed. We want to show building owners and planners the advantages of alternative building materials and encourage them to rethink the building process. With the help of a digital map of references and potentials, we will show examples of sustainable and highly aesthetic architecture that can be created using different materials and what potential lies behind low carbon footprint solutions.

We then offer consulting and the creation of a material concept in order to transfer the new approaches into the building reality.

By supervising the tendering and construction process, we ensure that this is carried out and that we can incorporate important experience from the entire process into future projects.

Our offer thus covers the entire construction process, but also takes into account the future stages of operation and deconstruction.

We are aiming at establishing a conscious and future-oriented lifestyle and to build adequately for it. For buildings that contribute equally to the global climate and the indoor climate.

Requests from clients and a raising awareness in the architectural scene made us certain that there is an opportunity in developing a service, which responds to these needs. In the last two year we were applying a service which is comparable to the one we developed but using different, more individual tools and concepts. We use it as a prototype to test out different variations and ideas and to figure out what the main challenges are for the construction professionals.

Trained and experienced in different fields in the building sector we are a diverse team, motivated to change the way we build:

Jordan Kouto - Founder, Construction Manager and Building Biologist

Foundation of Kouto Alternatives Bauen

Workshops on earth building, circular building, building change, design thinking and ecobau

Work as a building physicist, building pollutant diagnostician.

Board member and regional leader of the Ticino regional group of the Baubioswiss association

Federal certificate as a building biologist from the Bildungszentrum Baubiologie Zurich

Work as a construction foreman and site manager in Switzerland and Nepal

Technical college for building construction in Trevano, Switzerland

Apprenticeship as a bricklayer

Leon Beck - Architect and Alternative building advocate

Work as architect in Germany

BSC in architecture from the ETH Zurich

Co-founding of the ’AGN‘ working group for sustainability at the department of architecture at the ETH Zurich

Teaching assistant of the block research group at the ETH Zurich

Engagement in the Student Sustainability Commission at the ETH Zurich in the fields of food, divestment, real estate and climate neutrality

Carolina Goijman - Architect and Builder specialized in sustainable and natural building

Work and volunteer in several projects on sustainable architecture and permaculture in Latinamerica and Eupe with a special focus on natural materials, upcycling, re-use and co-creation with local communities.

Graduated in architecture from the University of Buenos Aires

With the help of the Joincreate funding we will be able to develop a prototype of the tool including a database and to bring it to the market, starting in Switzerland by the end of 2022.

We are looking forward to bringing tools with natural building materials and environmental solutions to the construction industry and building bridges between them to be used in construction projects.

To achieve that we expect from the programme, besides financial support, to gain feedback from experts in the field of natural building materials and circular economy to expand our database and to connect people, alternative materials and systems. Furthermore we are happy about consulting in the field of business development, finance and communication as well as access to a network valuable for scaling up the service.