CircÛbi

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CircÛbi is an initiative at ETH Zurich that integrates digital explorations into hands-on circular construction. The project centers around the reuse of materials from the famous Huber Pavilions, originally built between 1987 and 1991 as temporary lecture studios on ETH campus and deconstructed in 2022, decades later than foreseen. The pavilions were known for their modular structure and ease of disassembly, providing an ideal source of materials for reuse.

Facing the necessity to remove the Huber Pavilions, an interdisciplinary and participatory effort emerged to repurpose their components instead of discarding them and thus transforming and reclaiming the architectural heritage value of the pavilions. This process involved the identification, cataloging, and disassembly of reclaimed materials to later construct the CircÛbi Pavilion on the ETH Zurich campus.

The new project uses iconic reclaimed timber trusses that once supported the roof of the original structure. Employing dry, reversible connections, the novel pavilion is designed for easy disassembly and thus a third life cycle of reuse. The materials are integrated into the new design with minimal processing to preserve their intrinsic value. Students created digital product passports for the components and materials, so that their reuse over several life cycles can be tracked and traced. Plants we

CircÛbi showcases innovation by integrating circular construction principles into education, addressing the challenge of construction waste and resource depletion to the future generation of builders. The practical phase also went beyond traditional classroom learning, recognizing the importance of informal learning processes and hands-on practices for students. While formal education laid the groundwork of technical and factual knowledge, the practical experiences gained during the construction process were invaluable in shaping the creative architects, conservationists, engineers, computer scientists, and researchers needed for the future.This approach provides a replicable model for future educational and construction projects.

Link

• https://library-of-reuse.ch/projects/huber-pavilion

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Judge’s Comments

David Benjamin

Founding Principal of The Living and Associate Professor at Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation

New Academy Prize

The New Academy Prize recognizes this project for its new way of teaching and learning as part of a novel paradigm of materials and architecture. The project itself is collaborative and multi-disciplinary, like education should be. The project also offers inspiring thinking and design, beyond the typical ideas about a circular economy. With its emphasis on design, construction, and deconstruction, the project is well-positioned within other efforts in this sub-field and other expert guidance. Along with a bold vision, the project engages experts and students, and it includes hands-on building experience. It also touches on the role that digital tools may play in managing the complexity inherent in circularity. The sophistication of this approach revolves around its belief that in order for circularity to scale up and achieve its fullest impact, a new generation of professionals must internalize the new principals and techniques through first-hand experience.