The NEST for innovation (for construction)

Peter Richner has built his NEST at Empa . What a great idea - what a playground. And as we all know, for the founder of the #PlaySeriousAkademie, Mathias Haas, "play" is the greatest possible "extension of the human being". What more do we need these days than "play", "test", "try out"? Or as others say: "Fail Fast - Fail Cheap".?

Test - test - test.

However, this is exactly what is not so easy in the building sector, because real estate of all kinds is a significant investment - if not the biggest expenditure in one's entire life. The consequence is absolute risk avoidance and consequently massive regulation as well as permanent consolidation with the help of resilient processes. Hedging in the direct and indirect sense.?

But now we are living in a climate and energy crisis, and this is producing insane pressure. There are responsible players for this! The #construction and operation of buildings and #infrastructure eats up 50 per cent of the raw material demand and generates over 80 per cent of the waste produced in #Switzerland. In the Confederation, about 40% of final energy flows into this segment. About a year ago (due to the war), energy costs increased by about 4 times. Now is the time to celebrate #EMPA and its #NEST!

Building the future together

The NEST, a modular research and innovation building of the #SwissFederalLaboratories for Materials Testing and Research, creates the opportunity to "build" basic research and test it in real life. Yes, people live in these modules. This everyday life then leads to feedback and data at all levels.?

It's not VR-AR-MR goggles and it's not an exhibition stand.

Industry representatives such as the household appliance manufacturer V-ZUG or the sauna and spa builder KLAFS GmbH cooperate and test precisely in this environment. Research meets business, and together the experts meet the users: the residents. The vertical quarter is alive with the latest energy technology, including ice storage, coupled with mobility concepts. Conceived in spaces, it offers workshop areas as well as work, living and experience areas in particular. The latter are, in particular, a fitness room and the spa landscape.?

#Energy research has had a very well thought-out solution for the three different saunas for about five years now. Roughly speaking, a heat pump is used and serves (one after the other) the three different "sauna aisles". First the Finnish sauna, then the steam bath. First the high temperatures, then it gradually goes down. So far so logical. But no industry representative brought this stepped solution to the market - until the energy price explosion just described.?

The solution on a silver platter is now coming to the market.

Other prime examples of innovation include a tower made of "programmed wood" in Urbach near Stuttgart. In 2019, the "strikingly soaring landmark" was created for the Remstal Garden Show. Using the so-called "bilayer method", wood is glued together in layers. The magic comes from flat wood elements that are combined by thickness, annual ring orientation, its layered structure and, for example, moisture content in such a way that they produce clear and slightly curved lines. Another example that EMPA's work creates novel solutions. The tower is the new landmark of the city. Innovation through science - in real life. Everyone can marvel at the work and use it.

Contemporary wood.?

Back to #Dübendorf near #Zurich:

At least as spectacular here are the workplaces, which are predominantly built by the #ReUse of materials. These spaces are storage for materials. When they are used for another purpose, they are simply converted. Nothing is welded or glued. Even the future expert Mathias Haas could rebuild - with or without a cordless screwdriver. As much as 2/3 of the materials come from the deconstruction of other buildings. The door handles from a bank, the books from the old library (now a wall), the floors, other wall elements, the lights... and yes, the zeitgeist is absolutely palpable! On the face of it, it is clear that the elements are not new - but that is precisely why the concept is particularly exciting.

New is boring today. New rarely has a story.

It is also worth mentioning that such a method of working requires more intensive planning, more elaborate dismantling (instead of demolition) and somewhat more elaborate installation. At the same time, the materials are significantly cheaper or even completely free. It is obvious that resources are saved and that the craft is upgraded. So why not integrate "ReUse" into the next tender? Questions like these come to mind - especially when you can enter or even inhabit an original like this one.

These rooms are just full of stories!

With #PeterRichner, anything is possible. Even ceilings with 70% less #concrete and 90% less #steel. These printed ceiling elements integrate ventilation shafts, for example, and are reminiscent of listed stucco ceilings. These elements are suspended from steel cables - like beads on a chain. At least for a "native pragmatist" like Mathias Haas, who is neither a scientist nor an engineer. No matter. That's where new design possibilities come from, just like this innovation that the world needs. Again: -70% concrete, -90% steel.?

It's great to see that humanity can also get further. Even if it sometimes takes a little longer.

The "Kreislauforientiertes Bauen Charta" fits in with this!?

With this agreement, the existing building fabric is to make it big through cycle-oriented construction. Here are the pillars of the mission:

I. The time horizon is 2030

II. each partner organisation develops an action plan until 2026

III. the results are communicated transparently

IV. learning is shared (also) through this

V. Other partners are welcome

This is about renovating instead of building new, about reducing the use of materials, reusing and, for example, waste prevention. It is also very much about education. And above all, it is about thrust. The current members invest 4 billion CHF in building construction per year. They include the Canton of Zurich's building department, Swiss Prime Site and Immobilien | Die Schweizerische Post Management & Service - to name just three organisations.

It's great that there are people like Peter Richner who obviously not only do research or show technical finesse, but also demonstrate social competence. Reaching people and convincing budget holders.

Innovation is a social process!

How often are there ingenious initiatives that are communicated lousily - often with almost no budget or direction? How often is maximum energy put into technical innovations - making everything (!) possible? How often are people forgotten - for example, are fears completely ignored? The EMPA is a counter-project that shows that subsidies can not only support ready-made business models (as in the case of the 10 billion EUR subsidy for the new Intel plant near Magdeburg), but that the most diverse stakeholders can come together - if there are places like the NEST.?

Mathias Haas, DER #TRENDBEOBACHTER, is not a scientist or an engineer. But these "gaps" in his CV do not make his work any less interesting, because he dares to ask. And to listen. The #MegaTrendExpert and his team focus on long-term change and the art of bringing leaders and entire groups of people (e.g. workforces) along with them.?

With his PLAY SERIOUS AKADEMIE, Mathias Haas has been using #gamification as the key to change projects and missions of all kinds for over 15 years. He goes into all industries, nationally and internationally. The international Swabian also works a lot in Switzerland - so it is only too logical that he has also opened his "temporary office" in Zurich for four weeks. From here, there are short distances to clients such as Feldschl?sschen Getr?nke AG , Helvetia Versicherungen Schweiz and 罗氏公司 .?

More information on Mathias Haas' support for the future, lectures, moderations and strategy consultations is available at www.trendbeobachter.ch and www.play-serious.org.