Transfer hub for materials and knowledge

Dr. Sebastian Fastenrath, Geographisches Institut, Unit Wirtschaftsgeographie

External partner: OFFCUT Bern (Julia Lütolf)

In an 800 m² warehouse in Wohlen near Bern, various actors collect construction materials from deconstruction, overproduction and waste management in order to prepare them for reuse and pass them on. Each organisation brings its own network and material focus. Together, they create a transfer hub through which materials flow back into building and design cycles in multiple ways. ReHoLab accompanies this Re‑Use Hof Bannholz as a transdisciplinary living lab, examining how circular‑economy practices emerge, how knowledge circulates, and under which conditions such models can grow. Methodologically, the project combines qualitative research, co‑creation formats and film‑based documentation as an integrated research instrument. Direct CO₂ savings are quantified according to KBOB standards, while the real leverage lies in the model’s transferability to other Swiss urban regions.