Kerstin Müller: ‘How component reuse and emission targets characterise Swiss competition’

Guest Lecture by Kerstin Müller, Zirkular GmbH, Basel & Zürich

Kerstin Müller is an architect and managing director of Zirkular GmbH. Previously, she was part of the management team of baubüro in situ in Basel. Kerstin is co-managing the CAS Zirkuläres Bauen in Switzerland and currently holds a guest professorship at the faculty of architecture at KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany.

About the practice:
As a specialist planner, Zirkular is guided by the multifaceted nature of circular building principles, building in the existing, working with what is already there, and expanding with new construction for the future reuse and further use of buildings and their components. Zirkular partners and advises on projects and competitions as well as promotes research and education.

About the lecture:
In view of the scarcity of resources and the climate crisis, it is necessary to reduce material consumption and CO2 emissions in the construction of buildings. This is becoming the new normal. As part of the competition phase, some cities or property owners in Switzerland are demanding a life cycle assessment of the project design, the results of which are incorporated into the judging process. What aesthetics result from this sustainable approach?

(c) Foto: Martin Zeller, K.118 Kopfbau‘