Basel, Switzerland – Barbara Buser, a 72‑year‑old architect who still bicycles around her hometown, is turning the country’s abandoned factories into thriving community spaces while dramatically reducing carbon emissions.
Saving, not building
Inside the former K.118 carpentry factory in Winterthur, a bright red metal façade hides compressed straw bales, local clay walls, a steel staircase salvaged from a Zurich office, and beams that once supported a Basel supermarket roof. Eighty windows were rescued from another demolition‑bound building. Researchers at Zurich University of Applied Sciences say the project cut embodied carbon by almost two‑thirds compared with conventional new construction.
Recognition and impact
The project earned the 2021 Holcim Global Gold Award, one of the world’s highest honors for sustainable construction. Buser’s approach, which she calls “circular construction,” reuses entire structures and components rather than tearing them down.
Community‑centered design
Her renovated factories now host indoor playgrounds, cafés, a theater, a climbing gym, and affordable workspaces for artisans, lawyers, and startups. Rents sit about 10 % below market rates because repurposing proved cheaper than building anew. Residents gather for tango evenings, teenagers linger by a small pond, and families enjoy low‑cost amenities.
Beyond buildings
With partner Eric Honegger, Buser has launched more than 20 enterprises focused on adaptive reuse, from a consultancy for climate‑conscious building to a nonprofit urban think tank and a marketplace that matches salvaged components with new projects. The Basel Bauteilbörse, founded in 1996, now operates in 16 cities, providing a network for reusable construction parts.
Environmental urgency
The construction sector accounts for up to 12 % of global greenhouse‑gas emissions and over 35 % of Europe’s waste. The European Commission estimates that better material efficiency could cut those emissions by 80 %.
Vision for the future
Buser says, “Because of climate change, demolition simply no longer makes sense.” She urges developers to review every project against strict carbon targets and to let future tenants shape the space, rather than imposing a pre‑set vision.
Her work demonstrates that the most sustainable building may be the one we choose not to demolish, offering a model for communities worldwide seeking to balance affordability, livability, and environmental stewardship.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
