Sustainability award for the circularWOOD project by HSLU and TU Munich
Researchers at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts win the Sustainability Challenge of the German Sustainable Building Council with the circularWOOD research project. In it
In cooperation with the Technical University of Munich, they are investigating the implementation of circular principles in timber construction.
Wood is gaining ground as an ecologically high-quality building material. Because building with wood protects the climate and avoids CO2. The raw material therefore has great potential for the circular economy. But: "Today, wood does not remain part of the material cycle for long enough," says Sonja Geier, Deputy Head of the Competence Center Typology & Planning in Architecture (CCTP) at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU). So what does it take to ensure that wood can not only be used once, but also reused when a timber construction is demolished? How is a circular economy possible for timber construction?
Laying the foundations, developing solutions
Until now, planners and builders have lacked the necessary basis for transferring the principles of the circular economy to modern timber construction. Sonja Geier and her team have therefore joined forces with the Chair of Architecture and Timber Construction at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to investigate the barriers and obstacles, but also the opportunities and potential. To do this, the researchers took a close look at the entire process chain, from planning and construction through to use. It was only thanks to this analysis that they were able to develop solution strategies and recommendations for action for a circular timber construction industry.
The circularWOOD project thus lays the foundation for technical innovations and sustainable practices along the entire timber construction value chain. "The potential of wood as a recyclable building material has not yet been exhausted. With circularWOOD, we want to prepare the paradigm shift in timber construction," says Sonja Geier.
With their work, HSLU and TUM won the Sustainability Challenge 2024 in the Research category. The prize is awarded by a jury of experts from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The DGNB Sustainability Challenge is looking for "innovations that question the status quo, initiate new ideas and bring about change". Since 2019, the non-profit association has been awarding this innovation prize in three categories: innovation, start-up and research. This year, the expert jury received a record number of 145 submissions.
Source and more information about the project: www.hslu.ch
