Towards a sustainable building culture

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Matthias Gerber from Wiggen (LU) is a qualified carpenter (EFZ) and has five years' professional experience. He is at the beginning of his full-time bachelor's degree in wood technology.

What do you expect to gain by studying at BFH?

That it will give me sound basic knowledge, because I want to develop in the direction of planning and project management. I'm looking for a challenge and believe a bachelor's degree will give me the opportunity to better realise my ideas about building. I find concepts with natural wood such as the Holz100 solid-wood construction method particularly exciting. I could imagine working in this field later on.

What task did your group complete in Brig?

We designed a covered cycle bridge over the Rhone, combined with a pop-up bar as a meeting point in the entrance area to the station. Our aim was to make cycling more attractive and thus promote an environmentally friendly mode of transport. With its integrated solar panels, the bridge would also produce renewable, clean electricity.

What did you gain from induction week?

I found the exchange with students from the fields of architecture and civil engineering interesting - to see what others think about timber construction. The week gave me some food for thought, especially on the issue of sustainability, of course.

Nicole Chevallaz from Trubschachen (BE) did an internship at an engineering firm after my general baccalaureate, a requirement for admission to the civil engineering degree programme at BFH.

What do you expect to gain by studying at BFH?

I hope to gain in-depth knowledge from all areas of civil engineering and hope to discover which areas I'm particularly interested in. Practical experience is important to me, which is why I will be working part-time as a student trainee in an engineering office during the four-year degree programme. I hope my bachelor's degree will enable me to work on projects independently.

What was your team tasked with during induction week at Lenk?

It was all about making regional tourism more sustainable. Our team analysed the resource streams, such as: where do the tourists come from and what do they do here? Other teams dealt with issues relating to transport, infrastructure and architecture.

Was that a good way to start your course?

I thought it was very cool to be introduced to the topics that we will now be dealing with in greater depth. Though we realised that we all still lacked a lot of knowledge, it was exciting to gain an insight into the other specialist areas and to exchange ideas. An important realisation for me was that interdisciplinary collaboration is important and that you get further when you exchange ideas beyond the boundaries of your own field.

David Monti from Lucerne is an EFZ carpenter who has already completed further training to become a foreman. He is now working towards the Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Wood Technology at the Higher Technical School of Wood Biel.

Why did you decide to take a continuing education course at HF Holz Biel?

It's a renowned school; a few of my colleagues have already completed this course. I am looking forward to a broad-based training programme that will equip me to take on greater responsibility. I'd like to work in project management in the future because I have a particular interest in the technical and planning aspects of timber construction.

What does the BHF-AHB slogan "Natural and sustainable building" mean to you?

The trend expressed in this slogan is important for me and for the construction industry. A lot of things in this respect were quite new to me during induction week. The insight into current trends in the construction industry was interesting. But sustainability is a bit like monument protection: everyone thinks it's a good thing, but the extra cost tends to put people off. Sustainability should be affordable for everyone.

Will you be able to encourage sustainable construction as a wood technician?

Many important decisions relating to sustainability are made at a higher level, by the client, architects and engineers. But even if I'm 'only' a technician, I'm sure I'll have some degree of influence, especially on smaller projects. It is also about making your own business more sustainable - for example by optimising processes or in your choice of materials.

After leaving school, Timea Walther from Utzigen (BE) opted for the Passerelle scheme to study architecture at BFH. She is studying part-time for four years, during which she will be working part-time in the architecture firm where she completed her internship.

How was induction week for you?

Very cool. It was exciting to see the different skills and knowledge the other students bring to the table with their different backgrounds. The exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration in the teams in Brig was interesting too.

What task was your team set?

We had to select a location that we would repurpose in some way to create added value for the local population. The issue of sustainability had to play a key role. We decided on an old sports field and asked the people in the neighbourhood about their wishes and needs. Our concept envisaged the redevelopment into a social space for the community. We also looked at the unsealing of surfaces.

Do you think that the challenges of sustainable development will play an important role in your professional life?

It's an issue that's becoming increasingly important; I see that too in my job at the architectural firm. Construction has got to change. For example, more existing buildings should be refurbished and modernised instead of being demolished and rebuilt from the ground up. As an architect, I can hardly make decisions on such fundamental questions myself. But if I put forward good arguments, I can influence the client to give sustainability the necessary weight.

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