<h3>What exactly are biosourced materials</h3>A biosourced material is a construction material derived from biomass - plant or animal origin - usable in building construction or renovation. This broad definition covers a wide variety of materials and uses: primarily thermal insulation but also structure, finishes, coatings, and paints. The common characteristic is the renewable origin of the material, as opposed to petrosourced materials (polystyrene, polyurethane) or energy-intensive mineral materials to manufacture (glass wool, rock wool).The environmental benefits of biosourced materials rely on two complementary mechanisms. Firstly, they store carbon throughout their lifespan in the building - approximately 900 kg of CO2 equivalent is sequestered by one cubic meter of wood. Secondly, their production requires less energy compared to synthetic or mineral insulators, significantly reducing their overall carbon footprint. This aspect is now explicitly valued by <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/quest-ce-que-la-re-2020-ou-la-rt-2020">RE 2020</a>, which incorporates a carbon indicator across the building's entire life cycle.Beyond carbon footprint, biosourced materials offer intrinsic technical qualities particularly suited to sustainable buildings - especially their ability to regulate humidity through air exchange, a valuable feature in old stone buildings or humid climates.<h3>Wood, a central material in sustainable construction</h3>Wood is the most widely used biosourced material in sustainable construction, both in structure and insulation. Several species and formats coexist depending on the uses.For the structure, glued-laminated timber or solid wood are dominant solutions in contemporary timber frame constructions. Resinous species - spruce, fir, Douglas fir, larch - dominate the market for their cost-effectiveness and availability in France. Maritime pine from the Landes forest is particularly used in the southwest, notably in constructions around <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/bassin-darcachon-limmobilier-durable-face-a-la-cote">Bassin d'Arcachon</a>. Larch, due to its natural resistance, is used in many Alpine claddings. Corsican chestnut regains its place in island construction, as discussed in our <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/construire-ou-acheter-ecologique-en-corse-ce-quil-faut-savoir-en-2026">guide on ecological construction in Corsica</a>.For thermal insulation, wood fiber is the most versatile biosourced insulant. Available in rigid boards, semi-rigid boards, or loose-fill, it offers a thermal conductivity comparable to mineral wool (lambda around 0.038 to 0.045 W/m.K) while exhibiting much better thermal inertia - a decisive property for summer comfort. Dense wood fiber panels are particularly suitable for external insulation of masonry walls, while semi-rigid panels are used for insulation in attics or timber frame walls. Indicative cost: 25 to 45 €/m² depending on thickness, installed.<h3>Hemp, versatile and high-performing</h3>Hemp is one of the most versatile biosourced materials available today. The French hemp construction sector has experienced significant growth since 2010, with several processing units scattered across the country ensuring supply security and cost control.Thermal insulation by hemp wool, available in rolls or panels, offers performance comparable to wood fiber with slightly higher weight. Its excellent resistance to insects and humidity makes it an especially interesting choice for humid climates or old buildings. Indicative cost: 30 to 50 €/m² installed.Hempcrete, a mixture of hemp shives (woody part of the stem) and lime, constitutes a combined structural and insulating solution. Applied by shuttering or spraying, it fulfills both the insulating and inertial thermal mass functions. This technique particularly appeals to projects for respectful renovation of old stone buildings, where breathability and humidity regulation are essential. Renovation projects of Haussmannian Parisian apartments frequently use this technique to preserve the integrity of the stone walls while significantly improving thermal performances.<h3>Straw, a confidential material with great potential</h3>Straw as an insulating material remains a minority in France but is steadily progressing, driven by specialized actors and a new generation of builders. The technique involves using compressed straw bales integrated into a timber frame, covered with lime or earthen plasters.The thermal performances of straw are remarkable: lambda around 0.055 to 0.080 W/m.K depending on density and fiber orientation, slightly lower than mineral wool but largely compensated by the typical thickness of a bale (37 or 47 cm), resulting in exceptional overall thermal resistance. Straw construction easily achieves the Passivhaus level, as detailed in our <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/maison-passive-en-france-guide-complet-2026">guide to passive houses</a>.The cost of a straw construction is generally comparable, if not lower, than that of an equivalent conventional construction when partial self-construction is considered. When entrusted to a specialized company, the cost aligns today with that of traditional biosourced construction, around €1,800 to €2,500 per square meter for all trades.<h3>Cork, specialist in Mediterranean climates</h3>Cork is extracted from the bark of cork oak, mainly cultivated in the south of France (Var, Aude, Corsica) and Portugal. Its closed cellular structure gives it exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation qualities, combined with remarkable natural resistance to humidity, insects, and mold.Expanded cork, sold in panels of different densities, is a particularly suitable insulant for humid Mediterranean climates. Its resistance to humidity makes it a preferred choice for insulating foundations, low floors, and damp rooms. When used for external insulation under cladding, it offers excellent thermal inertia and valuable humidity regulation for Mediterranean constructions - a dimension often discussed in our analysis of <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/limmobilier-durable-sur-la-cote-dazur-entre-prestige-et-performance">sustainable Mediterranean real estate</a>.The cost of cork is significantly higher than other biosourced materials (€60 to €100 per square meter installed depending on thickness), but its exceptional durability - several centuries - and specific qualities justify this investment for demanding projects.<h3>Cellulose wadding, recycling and performance</h3>Cellulose wadding, made from recycled newspaper, is one of the most economical biosourced insulants available in France today. Several French factories produce this material, ensuring broad availability and competitive cost.Its thermal performances are excellent (lambda around 0.038 to 0.042 W/m.K) with particularly effective implementation by blowing in attics or insufflation in timber frame walls. Its greater density compared to synthetic insulants also gives it good thermal inertia and excellent summer comfort. Indicative cost: €20 to €35 per square meter blown, making it one of the most financially accessible insulants.Cellulose wadding is particularly suitable for insulating unheated attics and floors of converted attics, where blowing ensures optimal filling of all corners and avoids thermal bridges. For renovations, it is often the most cost-effective solution.<h3>How to choose between the different materials</h3>The choice among different biosourced materials depends on several criteria that should be weighed according to the specific project.The local climate naturally guides certain choices. In a humid Mediterranean climate, cork and hemp excel due to their resistance to humidity. In a continental or mountainous climate, dense wood fiber and straw offer the best summer comfort performances due to their inertia. In an oceanic climate, the combination of wood fiber and cellulose wadding is a proven and economical solution.The type of building also influences the choice. For old stone buildings, where breathability is essential, materials like hemp, cork, or hemp-lime are essential. For new timber frame constructions, wood fiber and cellulose wadding are the most suitable technically and economically. For attic renovations, blown cellulose wadding remains unbeatable in terms of performance/cost ratio.Lastly, the budget guides decision-making. Cellulose wadding and wood wool are the most accessible options. Hemp and wood fiber represent an intermediate investment. Cork and well-implemented straw rank at the top end due to their quality and durability.<h3>Finding a property built or renovated with biosourced materials</h3>Sustainable Real Estate specifically identifies properties built or renovated with sustainable materials through the "Sustainable Materials" label, which is one of the seven evaluation criteria applied to each referenced property. The <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/list/materiaux-durables">Sustainable Materials</a> page lists corresponding properties, filterable by location and type.For buyers seeking a heritage project, the <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/heritage">Heritage</a> section extends the selection with properties often restored respecting traditional materials - stone, lime, local wood - aligning with the logic of contemporary biosourced materials.Sustainable Real Estate selects real estate properties built or renovated with durable materials all over France. Explore the selection on the <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/list/materiaux-durables">Sustainable Materials</a> page and the <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/pages/notre-engagement">7 sustainable criteria</a> applied to each property.

Biosourced materials: choosing wood, hemp, straw, or cork for a sustainable project

What does transformation mean in your practice?I come from a territory where one learns very early that the landscape is older than us. The Mediterranean is my matrix. Corsica taught me about light, slopes, materials—but also the idea that no creation makes sense without ethics.Transforming is first and foremost about listening. Observing a place, x-raying it, almost digging through it like an archaeologist before any intervention. Reading the layers, the traces, the memories. I look at buildings as living beings. They have a history, sometimes scars, a human and territorial thickness. Building is not about erasing that, but about continuing a story. Building without destroying. Inventing without denying.The theme "Architecture Is Transformation" resonates deeply with my practice because it re-establishes architecture in an idea of responsibility. Today, we talk a lot about sustainability, but sustainability cannot be purely technical. I deeply believe that a sustainable building is a building that one does not want to destroy. A building that belongs to its territory to the point of becoming self-evident.Your work is often described as an architecture that "reveals" rather than transforms. Is interpreting the existing foremost for you?Yes, absolutely. I believe that a place already possesses an intelligence. A light, a geography, a material, sometimes even an invisible memory. Architecture should dialog with that rather than deny it.Interpreting the existing does not mean being nostalgic. On the contrary, it requires a lot of invention and delicacy. I never seek to reproduce the past. I aim to extend a presence, to make the layers of time converse without opposing them. As I wrote about the Couvent Saint-François: "to build from the ruins is the past and modernity embracing each other, making a promise to never betray each other."The building already existed like an unfinished memory, almost like a wounded body. I didn't want to erase the ruin but to reveal its silent strength. The copper did not come to cover the stone; it came to extend its breath, transmit its lost form, bring forth a second skin between disappearance and rebirth.<h3>On territories and what we do to them</h3>How can your vision address the current challenges of transforming territories?For a long time, territories were thought of through logics of speed, productivity, and expansion. Sometimes we built architectures that were disconnected from their geography, climate, human memory. Today, we understand that places need long time.Reconciling space and time is precisely refusing a detached architecture. It is considering that a building belongs to a landscape, a culture, uses, a collective history. A territory is never a blank page.Each place already possesses an intelligence, a memory, a way of inhabiting that must be listened to before intervening. This is particularly true in rehabilitation projects, where architecture can be an act of continuity rather than one of erasure. In the Couvent Saint-François, it was not about rebuilding a static monument, but about extending a presence—allowing a ruin, a landscape, and a contemporary use to coexist in the same temporality.Can architecture influence the social and economic dynamics of a territory?Yes, deeply. Architecture is never just an aesthetic object. It influences how people live, meet, work, move, look at their territory.A project can restore dignity to a forgotten place. In Lumio, in Cabriès, or at A Strega, the schools we designed are not just considered as facilities. They become places of transmission, spaces where children learn as much from the presence of the landscape, light, and materials as from the teaching itself.At Château de Nalys, we used materials from the site itself and regional quarries, so the building literally extends the geology and memory of the place. Short circuits, local resources, artisans—this is an integral part of the thinking. It's not just an environmental issue. It's a way to preserve a human economy and a cultural continuity.But what matters most to me is that architecture can reintroduce emotion into territories. And this emotion creates attachment. A territory to which one is attached is a territory that will be protected even more.<h3>On materials and the intuition of the territory</h3>You often mention "the intuition of the territory." How does an engaged act influence the sustainability of a project?I believe that sustainability starts long before the technical aspects. It starts in how a project looks at a territory.An engaged act is first about listening to what is already there: geography, light, climate, a constructive culture, know-how, human memory. Stone, wood, copper, water are never just decorative choices in my work. They are languages.As for technological innovation, I never see it as an end in itself. It becomes interesting when it remains in service of the sensitive, the living, and the long term. The copper of the Couvent Saint-François is an example: the technology enabled the creation of a precise and reversible contemporary structure, but this innovation remains invisible as a demonstration. It acts as a second skin that dialogues with the stone and accompanies the transformation of the place without brutalizing it.In the end, building with accuracy may be the most sustainable form of modernity.<h3>On rehabilitation and what real estate is still missing</h3>How does rehabilitation enable building without erasing?To rehabilitate is to accept that a place has already lived before us. I find this idea very beautiful.For a long time, architecture was built on the idea of a blank slate, as if we had to erase to create. Today, we understand that buildings, landscapes, and territories carry a human, cultural, and even emotional memory that must be preserved. I never consider heritage as something static. I believe in its living continuity.The Couvent Saint-François embodied this reflection. The building was partially in ruins, dormant for decades. I didn't want to rebuild against the vestiges but with them. The copper came to extend the stone like a delicate graft—a second skin capable of transmitting the lost form without erasing the traces of time. I've always seen this project as a meeting between the past and modernity, promising not to betray each other.Is reusing and transforming existing buildings currently underestimated by real estate actors?Yes, and this awareness is progressing, but still insufficient.For a long time, existing buildings have been seen as a constraint: more complex, slower, sometimes less profitable in the short term than new construction. Yet, I believe exactly the opposite. The existing represents an immense resource for the future. Destroying them systematically to rebuild often means erasing an intelligence already present in the territory.I deeply believe that the city of tomorrow will be built more through transformation than expansion. Rehabilitating a building is not just about preserving a facade. It's about extending a story, reactivating uses, avoiding significant material and energy expenditure, but also maintaining an emotional bond between a place and those who inhabit it.Real estate actors are beginning to understand that the value of a project no longer lies solely in its immediate profitability but also in its ability to create attachment, sustainability, and a strong identity. A building to which people are attached is a building that is maintained, that is passed down, that is not wanted to be destroyed. Perhaps this is the most accurate definition of a sustainable architecture.<h3>On Corsica and ethics as a foundation</h3>"There is no valid creation without ethics." How does your relationship with Corsica structure your way of conceiving?Corsica is my matrix. It shaped my perspective long before I became an architect.I grew up with a very instinctive relationship with the landscape: the light, the rock, the scents of the maquis were part of my daily life. Very early on, I understood that nature was not just a backdrop but a presence. Corsica taught me humility. You do not dominate such a landscape; you learn to live with it. The slope taught me to accompany rather than impose.I believe that it is from there that this conviction was born that there is no valid creation without ethics. Because a territory always precedes us. We are merely inscribing ourselves in a broader history.The island holds layers of memory, of silence, of resistance within it. This depth inhabits all my projects, even when they are geographically distant. I deeply believe that building is not about taking possession of a territory. It is about engaging in a dialogue with it.After this international recognition, what types of projects do you wish to develop?This recognition accompanies my desire to move towards a new territory of exploration.For a long time, Corsica was my sensitive laboratory. It built me, rooted me, structured me. Then I had to leave it, as one leaves a family to grow. Today, I feel the desire to continue this emancipation. To embark on a quest for new horizons, sometimes far away. To discover other landscapes, climates, constructive cultures.I am deeply touched by vernacular architectures because they always tell a way of living with a territory. Every civilization holds a sensitive intelligence of the world, and architecture is often its most profound trace.What interests me is not to reproduce a formal design from one place to another, but to continue to learn. To listen. To move internally as well. I would like to develop projects where architecture creates a dialogue between cultures, between memory and contemporaneity, between territories and future uses.In essence, I am simply continuing the same research: understanding how to inhabit the world with more attention, more humility, and more poetry.

Amelia Tavella: "A sustainable building is a building that one does not want to destroy"

<h3>What is a Passive House?</h3>A passive house is a building designed to minimize the need for heating and cooling to the extent that it can almost do without them. The term comes from the German label Passivhaus, created in 1991 by physicist Wolfgang Feist. For a building to be Passivhaus certified, it must meet three measurable criteria:<ul><li>Primary energy consumption for heating must be less than 15 kWh/m²/year</li><li>Air tightness measured at n50 ≤ 0.6 air changes per hour</li><li>Total primary energy consumption (heating, hot water, electricity) must be less than 120 kWh/m²/year</li></ul>For comparison, a property classified as <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/dpe-a-et-b-why-these-properties-have-become-the-new-standard">DPE</a> A consumes less than 70 kWh/m²/year in primary energy. A passive house represents an even higher level of performance, especially applicable to new constructions or major renovations.<h3>Technical Principles of a Passive House</h3>A passive house is not based on a single miraculous equipment but on a combination of five principles:Enhanced insulation. The walls, roof, and floor benefit from insulation two to three times thicker than in a conventional construction. <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/list/materiaux-durables">Biobased materials</a> such as wood, straw, hemp, or cellulose wadding are favored for their reduced carbon footprint.<;>Air tightness. All junctions between materials are treated to avoid air leaks. A mandatory blower door test validates the performance.<;>Double-flow mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Stale air is extracted and preheats incoming air. The system recovers up to 90% of the heat, allowing the house to be heated almost exclusively by solar and internal gains (occupants, appliances).<;>Bioclimatic orientation. The glass windows are mostly oriented to the south to capture solar radiation in winter, with protections (caps, sunscreens) to prevent summer overheating.<;>Efficient triple-glazed windows with a Uw coefficient below 0.8 W/m².K.<h3>How Much Does a Passive House Cost in 2026?</h3>The cost of a passive house in France in 2026 ranges from €2,200 to €3,200 per square meter for new construction, representing a surcharge of about 10 to 20% compared to a construction compliant with <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/blog/articles/what-is-re-2020-or-rt-2020">RE 2020</a>. This surcharge is offset over the building's lifespan by energy savings: a passive house consumes on average 90% less heating than a standard house built before 2005.Several aids can reduce the initial investment: eco-PTZ up to €50,000, MaPrimeRénov' for renovations, local schemes according to regions. For a buyer, the asset value is also preserved: as the DPE tightening schedule progresses (rental prohibition for G-rated properties in 2025, F in 2028, E in 2034), high-energy performance properties increase in attractiveness.<h3>What's the Difference Between a Bioclimatic or BBC House?</h3>Three standards are often confused but correspond to different levels.A bioclimatic house optimizes its relationship with the sun, wind, and vegetation to reduce energy needs. It is an architectural approach, not a certification. It can achieve good performance without necessarily obtaining the Passivhaus label.A BBC house (Low Consumption Building) complies with the French label created in 2007, now integrated into current standards. Its maximum heating consumption is about 50 kWh/m²/year – three times more than a passive house.A passive house achieves the most demanding performance level of the three, with an international certification issued by the Passivhaus Institut.The three approaches are complementary. A passive house is generally also bioclimatic in its design and exceeds BBC requirements. The properties listed on <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/achat">Sustainable Real Estate</a> cover these three levels according to the sustainable criteria identified by the "Energy Efficiency" label.<h3>Where to Find Passive Houses in France?</h3>Passive houses are still in the minority in France compared to Germany or Austria, but their number is growing rapidly. Several regions focus on projects: Alsace for historical reasons (German proximity), Brittany and the Atlantic coast for their favorable temperate climate, and rural areas suitable for new bioclimatic constructions.Sustainable Real Estate lists high-energy performance properties, including certified passive houses, throughout France. The properties can be filtered by sustainable criteria, including energy efficiency. The selection includes both recent new constructions and exemplary renovations of old buildings, as found in the <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/patrimoine">Heritage</a> section. Sustainable Real Estate only lists properties classified as DPE A, B, or C. Discover over 15,000 eco-responsible properties selected according to <a href="https://www.sustainablerealestate.fr/pages/notre-engagement">7 sustainable criteria</a>.

Passive House in France: Complete Guide 2026

"Architecture Is Transformation": this is the theme chosen this year by the <a href="https://globalawardforsustainablearchitecture.com/">Global Award for Sustainable Architecture</a>, one of the most demanding distinctions in the sector. A title that immediately raises a less obvious question than it seems. Transforming, really - is it about building something new, or first knowing how to read what exists?Reading before buildingThe dominant trend in real estate has long been that of a clean slate: demolish, rebuild, optimize. However, another approach is gaining ground, led by architects and developers who advocate for a "reconciliation between space and time." The idea is that a project can only address the challenges of transforming a territory by first understanding its historical and human depth.This paradigm shift is significant for real estate. It implies that the value of a property is not merely about its square meters or its intrinsic energy performance - it also lies in how it fits into its environment, neighborhood, and history.Local anchoring as a sustainability leverBio-sourced materials, local resources, territorial know-how: what committed architects call the "intuition of the territory" increasingly aligns with the concerns of investors sensitive to ESG criteria. A project anchored in its context - using local stone, integrating the topography - is often more resilient, more accepted, and more sustainable in the long term. It is also easier to finance with banking institutions.Technological innovation in materials is certainly a valuable lever. But it does not replace this prior commitment to the place. On the contrary: new materials reach their full potential when integrated judiciously into a coherent overall logic.Rehabilitation: Costly but EssentialPerhaps where the gap between sustainable architecture and common real estate practices is most evident is in rehabilitation: it is often seen as too costly, too complex, too uncertain - there are plenty of arguments in favor of new construction.However, building without erasing is precisely what current constraints call for. Land sobriety, material reuse, limiting soil sealing: these imperatives place rehabilitation at the heart of the real estate value chain. Preserving a place's identity while adapting it to contemporary uses is a demanding balancing act, but it also produces the most unique and defensible assets over time.Ethics and Creation: An Imperative Beyond Architecture"There is no valid creation without ethics." This conviction, upheld by advocates of responsible architecture, resonates far beyond the design field. It challenges the entire real estate chain: developers, investors, managers. Transforming a territory means taking responsibility for those who inhabit it, today and tomorrow.It is precisely this requirement that sustainable real estate advocates for - not as an additional constraint, but as the foundation of a more solid and enduring value. This is also strikingly illustrated by the work of architect Amelia Tavella: winner of the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture 2026, she embodies this approach in each of her projects, such as the revival of the Saint-François Convent in Corsica - preserved heritage, sustainable materials, assumed modernity. An avant-garde architecture that repairs rather than erases. Discover more on <a href="https://www.ameliatavella.com/">ameliatavella.com</a>.

Architecture and Real Estate: What if Transformation Was First about Revealing? - Amelia Tavella

The 2026 theme, "Architecture Is Transformation," suggests a profound change: what transformation are we talking about specifically today? Is it about buildings, uses, or the economic models of real estate?The law of thermodynamics reminds us that no energy is created or lost; it only changes form. Today, we are called to transform an established system — one of an arrogant International Style guided solely by profit logic. Design processes, governance methods, and value systems are undergoing significant changes. "Architecture Is Transformation" is its clear expression: transformation occurs at all levels and scales. It ranges from reconfiguring territories, landscapes, and cities capable of absorbing and metabolizing past legacies to experimenting on a small scale with suspended lightweight structures made of wood and fibers, recycled glass and ceramics, or living walls composed of biopolymers. Laureates come from very different contexts (China, Vietnam, Mexico, Europe): what is the major common point in their approach to social and environmental challenges?Through the diversity of practices of our laureates, a constant remains: a deep, ethical, social, cultural, and political commitment. This position is not only aesthetic but programmatic — from the Bauhaus motto "less is more" to today's more pressing call: "better with less."&nbsp;Do regulatory pressure and low-carbon goals accelerate transformation or hinder innovation?Rules are necessary for society. But today, we are witnessing over-regulation in industrialized countries.Sustainable development should in no way become a privilege reserved for the wealthiest countries. Political and cultural awareness is key, supported by smart — and measured — laws. Over the past thirty years, exemplary regions in federal contexts, such as Vorarlberg or Baden-Württemberg, have shown how an ecological construction culture can anchor itself territorially... and serve as a reference.These contexts highlight what I call a "right-tech" approach: neither technophile excess — often prohibitively expensive — nor nostalgic regression. Vernacular innovation has never been about looking back but about mobilizing means tailored to location, climate, culture, and opportunities offered by local circular economies. In such frameworks, sustainability and renewed beauty arise from reengaging with archetypes, typologies, and practices deeply rooted in the materiality and history of places.&nbsp;What does the partnership with Saint-Gobain represent for you, renewed for the third consecutive year? Can the collaboration between industry and architectural research accelerate the ecological transition?It cannot only accelerate but must do so. At the Bauhaus, architects, craftsmen, designers, and industry worked together for architecture — and even a city — "accessible to all."The Bauhaus brought about three profound changes in less than a decade. First, an ecological thought of the city: densifying existing areas, combining uses, integrating the living as a space for meeting and movement. Then, a material revolution: inventing healthy materials accessible to all. Finally, a project of emancipation and inclusion: since 1919, women could study architecture for the first time, while cultures from around the world came together.These three principles — ecology, material innovation, inclusion — remain essential today. They notably underpin the research I conduct in our new research unit at the École Spéciale d'Architecture, focusing on "circularities": envisioning the city and architecture as a living, social, and innovative organism, driven by a keen awareness of economic circularity challenges.&nbsp;Given climate challenges, what are the currently most used sustainable materials?We must return to smart "right-tech" materials, designed and implemented with a very high quality requirement — and supported by modeling tools, robotization, and artificial intelligence. Bio- and geo-sourced materials from local resources: stone, ceramics, glass, wood, fibers, biopolymers — all potentially endlessly recyclable and long-standing in our millennia-old construction history. What will an "exemplary" sustainable real estate project look like in 2035, and what will be the new criteria for virtuous projects?The term "sustainability," stemming from 18th-century forestry — "not felling more trees than can grow back at the same time," according to Hans Carl von Carlowitz.Beyond "sustainable": it's about designing architecture that ages well, plain and simple. How can this be achieved? By integrating — even better, by actively involving — residents and users, listening, patiently mapping the visible and invisible resources of a place.Today, the paradigm shift is complete. Craftsmanship and industry are allies once again; the young generation of architects works in transdisciplinary teams, reinvents the existing with inventiveness, thinks about inclusion, and — an essential point — aims for true excellence in materiality and project.Because what ties us to architecture, what makes us want to preserve and pass it on, lies in deeper qualities: atmosphere, memory, simple beauty. These qualities will ultimately enable architecture to age well. In 2035, these qualities will be paramount worldwide.&nbsp;Since you created this award in 2006, what has surprised you the most in the evolution of sustainable architecture?What surprised me the most since creating the award in 2006 is the evolution of my students. At the beginning of each workshop or seminar, I always ask them the same question: "What kind of architect will you be? An adjective, please."In the 2000s, marked by the illusion of infinite growth, the answers were still: "unique," "famous," "influential." Today, they have changed. They answer me: "useful," "listening" — or simply "happy."&nbsp;Will the 2027 announced theme mark an even more social turning point?Oh yes, a theme both touching and urgent. After the essential transformation — rather than senseless waste — we are taking an additional step: for whom, essentially, do we design and build? The 2027 theme will be: Architecture Is Equity. <a href="https://globalawardforsustainablearchitecture.com/">Global Award for sustainable Architecture</a>

Sustainable architecture: towards a new way of living? - Interview with Jana Revedin

A Case Study to Follow: KELLER Diamant, Winterthur, SwitzerlandContext KELLER Druckmesstechnik AG faced two major challenges with its south-facing facade: excessive solar exposure leading to unwanted interior heating, particularly in summer, increasing the need for air conditioning, as well as high energy consumption of production machines. The architectural design of the building had to embody the company's values - precision and innovation - while ensuring a pleasant environment for employees. This balance between functionality and aesthetics was crucial for the project's success.Implementation of Solskin&nbsp;&nbsp;Solskin is integrated into the facade, creating a harmonious combination of smart shading and highly efficient solar energy production through sun tracking. This innovative and user-friendly solution combines corporate sustainability and design. With 3,500 movable modules covering 1,300 m², the Solskin facade dynamically adjusts its orientation to optimize solar energy production while ensuring effective shading, preserving natural light, and maintaining the building's aesthetic integrity. Mounted on an elegant facade mesh, the lightweight modules react in real-time to the environment, balancing energy efficiency, natural light control, and thermal comfort by interacting with their surroundings in a manner akin to natural systems.Developed over more than a decade at ETH Zurich, implemented by the Zurich Soft Robotics spin-off, and supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation, Solskin merges photovoltaic innovation, robotics, and sculptural design into an intelligent building envelope. Suited for facades, pergolas, balconies, and skylights, this system serves as both a shading device and a source of renewable energy, promoting health, comfort, and energy independence.Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and lightweight actuators, Solskin adapts in real-time to light, heat, and user needs. It reduces energy consumption by up to 80%, generates clean electricity, reduces the need for air conditioning, and ensures thermal comfort—even in extreme weather conditions.As climate pressure intensifies and cities strive for more resilience, architecture must evolve—and photovoltaic technologies are essential in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Buildings can no longer be inert boxes isolated from nature. They must interact, react, and contribute to the Global Climate Goals. This is architecture that learns, adapts, and thrives—just like the people and the planet it serves.Learn more about Solskin projects<a href="https://www.solskin.swiss/en/s-projects-basic"> https://www.solskin.swiss/en/s-projects-basic</a>

An Architecture that Evolves with the Climate

Created in 1990 in the United Kingdom, the BREEAM certification (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is international and is now used in 89 countries worldwide to promote sustainable real estate projects. It is applicable to a wide range of buildings, whether residential, commercial, industrial, educational, or healthcare.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?The certification evaluates the environmental performance of a building taking into account many criteria, such as energy performance, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, indoor air quality, use of sustainable materials in construction, and waste management. The landscape and green spaces around a building, the use of innovative processes, and transportation are also factors taken into consideration.These performance indicators allow for a precise measurement of the sustainability of a construction project and its impact on the environment.To obtain BREEAM certification, an audit by experts will assess the new building by measuring ten factors, including:Energy: Lighting systems, heating, ventilation, electrical appliances, and IT equipment will be analyzed to assess the building's energy consumption. Potential sources for improving energy efficiency may also be identified through consumption data.Water: Plumbing systems, rainwater harvesting devices, and wastewater management will be used to evaluate water use in the building.Construction materials: The sources of materials used and their lifespan, as well as construction waste management and recycling. Their reuse establishes the building's sustainability.Greenhouse gas emissions: Or the management of building pollution sources. Examination of emissions related to building activities, occupant travel, and energy consumption are considered.Occupant health and well-being: Outdoor and indoor air quality are analyzed through ventilation systems, products used in construction and furnishing, as well as indoor air quality monitoring measures. The importance of acoustic insulation to reduce external noise and respect the comfort of residents is noted.The landscape and ecosystem around the building: this evaluates the ecological impacts of the site on its environment. Green space management, biodiversity, waste recycling, and climate change adaptation measures are taken into account here.Another criterion for eco-responsible and certified housing is access to sustainable transport around the site.WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?By promoting the design and construction of buildings that are more respectful of the planet, BREEAM certification helps reduce the ecological footprint of real estate projects by offering solutions to reduce energy consumption. These measures not only have a positive impact on the environment but also significantly reduce the energy bills of the inhabitants of these homes.By considering factors such as indoor air quality, green spaces, or natural light, certified buildings offer a more pleasant and healthier environment, influencing the well-being of their occupants who then benefit from high-quality housing. These homes will enjoy better financial valuation, being more attractive on the market for both sale and rental in the short and medium term.In addition, BREEAM certification complies with local and national environmental regulations in force, promoting a long-term vision for tenants and sustainable real estate investment for owners.It guarantees the commitment of real estate developers to environmental protection, as well as compliance with international environmental performance standards. More than 600,000 buildings (residential, commercial, industrial, educational, or healthcare) have been certified in over 89 countries with an expected annual growth of around 15%.

All about BREEAM certification

1 - WHAT IS IT?&nbsp;The RE 2020 is a regulation aimed at significantly reducing energy consumption by imposing strict standards on insulation, ventilation, heating, and cooling systems. It reduces their climate impact by taking into account greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings.&nbsp;The RE 2020 promotes innovation by integrating at least one renewable energy source in construction and the use of sustainable building materials. This regulation improves the living comfort of occupants through enhanced thermal and acoustic insulation and by making homes more pleasant to live in during summers by adapting them to future climatic conditions through better thermal comfort design.&nbsp;In fact, the RE 2020 (Environmental Regulation 2020) replaces the RT 2012 (Thermal Regulation 2012) and complies with the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law (LTECV 2015) and the Housing Evolution and Digital Law (ELAN 2018), contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change.&nbsp;2- SINCE WHEN?&nbsp;As of January 1, 2022, the RE 2020 applies to the construction of buildings and parts of buildings like extensions, for residential use, which are subject to a building permit application or a prior declaration of work. Thus, in 2024, the RE 2020 is in force and mandatory for all new buildings.&nbsp;3- CONCRETELY?&nbsp;The RE 2020 generalizes positive energy buildings (BEPOS) and passive energy buildings (BEPAS). It introduces the concept of life cycle analysis of materials (LCA), favoring the use of biosourced and low-emission materials such as wood for construction, in order to minimize energy consumption. The RE 2020 is a new standard aiming to build positive energy homes (producing more energy than they consume) and passive houses (spending very little energy and recycling what they produce).&nbsp;The passive housing&nbsp;A Passive Energy Building, BEPAS, is a building that meets minimal energy consumption requirements and has enhanced airtightness with reinforced thermal insulation. The RE 2020 mandates the construction of passive buildings that produce as much energy as they consume. As a result, the housing's energy consumption per square meter is very low, even zero, and fully offset by solar or geothermal gains.&nbsp;The priority is to reduce thermal losses. To achieve this, the heating consumption must be less than 15 kWh/m² per year (for renovations, it goes up to 25 kWh/m² per year), and the total energy consumption must be less than 120 kWh/m². The Passive Energy Building relies primarily on excellent insulation of walls, such as walls, roof, and floor. Its airtightness is optimal.&nbsp;It should be noted that the BEPAS label certifies high energy performance for a housing unit, drastically reducing the heating and cooling bills for residents.&nbsp;The positive energy housing&nbsp;Also known as BEPOS, a Positive Energy Building must generate more energy than it consumes and strive for energy independence.&nbsp;To achieve this, the heating consumption must be less than 12 kWh/m² per year, and the primary energy consumption must be less than 100 kWh/m². The housing unit must be able to produce energy so that its energy balance is positive (heating, lighting, hot water, heat / cool recovery, and electrical appliances).&nbsp;Solar panels, a solar power plant, a wind turbine, or any other system that can produce excess energy can be used to build a Positive Energy Building.&nbsp;It should be noted that the surplus electricity can either be stored or sold to the EDF power grid at the prevailing purchase price.&nbsp;The RE 2020 regulation evolves the construction standards of new buildings by promoting energy sobriety and efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of new buildings while improving the comfort of residents.&nbsp;4- WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?&nbsp;The RE 2020 regulation updates the construction standards of new buildings. Renewable energy production must at least meet the building's needs to make it self-sufficient, or even exceed these needs.&nbsp;To reduce primary energy consumption in housing, excellent insulation of walls combined with better choice of materials will also improve residents' quality of life.&nbsp;To make housing energy-producing, it is necessary to optimize the home's free energy sources, such as the sun. To build a positive energy house, photovoltaic panels or a wind turbine can be used to generate electricity. Wood heating, solar heating, heat pumps, and geothermal energy for heating, solar water heaters for hot water. Finally, for water, rainwater recovery, water treatment, and water softeners.&nbsp;5- THE ADVANTAGE FOR ME?&nbsp;With the implementation of RE2020, we, as individuals and citizens, are sensitized to consume less energy. Indeed, technological advancements that reduce the consumption of our equipment are not enough to reach zero energy waste. Acquiring an apartment or a house subject to the RE 2020 regulation is a responsible, comfortable, and profitable choice.&nbsp;Profitable because there is an effective reduction in primary energy bills, possibly even excess when energy is produced and sold back.&nbsp;First-time homebuyers can also benefit from the Zero Rate Loan (PTZ), which can finance up to 40% of the property amount with an interest-free loan. The PTZ is subject to two criteria: household income and the geographical situation of the property.&nbsp;Reduced notary fees, between 2 and 3% of the acquisition price.&nbsp;Furthermore, if the energy effort was previously mainly borne by the new real estate sector, the old sector is expected to be directly involved very soon. It should be noted that properties classified as F in the energy performance diagnosis will no longer be available for rent from 2025. This directly impacts landlords of rental properties.&nbsp;At the same time, we all stand to benefit from the decarbonization of buildings, particularly in terms of health, reducing energy bills, and saving costs in the system.&nbsp;

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