As part of the renovation of the Markthalle peripheral buildings, the Maryon Foundation, together with Luca Selva Architekten, set a strong example for the responsible use of existing resources. At the heart of the project was the careful inspection and reuse of the ageing windows – an example of sustainability in action and the conscious use of grey energy.
Instead of replacing all the windows across the board, each individual element was subjected to a detailed inventory. The condition, condition and repairability were documented. Together with experts, the architects worked out possible renovation scenarios and tested various approaches. The result: where technically and energetically feasible, only the glass panes were replaced, while the existing frames were retained.
This approach not only enabled a considerable reduction in material consumption – several tons of material could be saved – but also lowered the project costs by around CHF 85,000. At the same time, the architectural expression of the buildings was retained – a gain for aesthetics, ecology and economy.
With this project, the Maryon Foundation demonstrates in an exemplary manner how the targeted re-use of building elements can be used to refurbish existing buildings in a way that conserves resources and preserves their value. The window refurbishment of the Markthalle peripheral buildings is thus representative of a future-oriented building culture that focuses on preservation, quality and sustainability.
