The K.118 project in Winterthur, a pioneering example of reuse in Switzerland, illustrates a radical approach to circular construction. The expansion of an existing warehouse relies entirely on materials from deconstruction, reversing the planning process: the design adapts to the reclaimed elements.
The hall structure consists of steel beams from a former Coop power station in Basel. The external staircase and the granite facade slabs used as flooring came from Zurich. Insulating windows and red sheet metal cladding from Winterthur and Zurich complete the ensemble. Natural materials such as wood, straw and clay are also integrated to ensure an optimal indoor climate with minimal energy consumption.
The building houses twelve workrooms, organized around shared kitchens and accessible via an elevator and external staircase. Thanks to this approach, the project's carbon footprint is 60% smaller than that of a conventional building. K.118 has thus established itself as a flagship project in Switzerland, proving that reuse is not just a do-it-yourself approach, but an efficient and sustainable form of circular architecture.