Structural Xploration Lab

What will the Grande Dixence region look like 200 years from now?

Published:07.12.23 — Master’s project – An EPFL architecture student explored what the area around the Grande Dixence dam in Valais Canton might look like in 2223, drawing on scientific data to shed light on the long-term implications of environmental change.

B. Lambec invited to talk at IDEAS lunch

Published:07.12.23 — On December 5th, Barbara Lambec (PhD candidate at the Structural Xploration Lab), presented a portion of her research to the crowd of the IDEAS. The IDEAS (Integrated Design, Architecture and Sustainability) program aims to address an increased integration of the various issues related to sustainable architecture within the framework of the Doctoral program Architecture & Science of the city (EDAR). Barbara Lambec presented an analysis of the interviews she conducted with stakeholders of reuse in the construction industry in the USA last year.

M.Bastien-Masse invited for a talk at the "ReuziDocumentation" launch

Published:28.11.23 — This Tuesday November 28th, Maléna Bastien Masse (PhD., scientific collaborator at the Structural Xploration Lab), is invited by Reuzi.ch to present recent applications of concrete component reuse led by the SXL. The talk is part of the launch event for the new "Reuzi Documentation" tool. It takes place in Geneva.

C. Fivet invited for opening lecture by Vaud Canton

Published:28.11.23 — On Monday November 27th, 2023, Prof. Corentin Fivet (Structural Xploration Lab) was invited by the Vaud Canton, Environment Department, to open the full-day workshop on the "Vaud Circular Transition: From waste to resources", which gathered a wide array of industry and public office participants. His talk focused on reuse in the construction sector, was complemented with interventions by Dunia Brunner (UNIL) and Nils Moussu (Fondation sanu durabilitas).

C. Fivet invited for closing lecture at Fondation Braillard

Published:28.11.23 — This Thursday November 23rd, Prof. Corentin Fivet (Structural Xploration Lab), was invited by the Fondation Braillard Architectes to close the full-day "Transition Workshop 2023" on "what targets should cities have to address climate and ecological challenges". His 45' talk took place in Geneva and was received by architects, students, and local population.

Inaugural Lecture by Corentin Fivet

Published:15.11.23 — Recently promoted to Associate Professor, Corentin Fivet (Structural Xploration Lab, EPFL) is providing its inaugural lecture at EPFL this Wednesday, 6PM. In his talk, Corentin Fivet will review recent research outputs and teaching activities from the Structural Xploration Lab, EPFL, related to reusing obsolete pieces in new building structures. Reflecting on the DNA that makes SXL what it is today, he will also attempt to characterise future academic opportunities, pitfalls, and ethical responsibilities for the SXL and the like, beyond current foci on material circularity.

Private unveiling of the FLO:RE slab

Published:15.11.23 — This Tuesday evening, the Structural Xploration Lab unveiled its latest prototype to a selected panel of industrial, academic and professional partners. The FLO:RE slab is demonstrating the technical feasibility and high environmental relevance of reusing reinforced concrete slabs from obsolete buildings to new ones, a research project carried on by Célia Küpfer, PhD candidate at the SXL, with the support of Maléna Bastien Masse, Numa Bertola, and Corentin Fivet. More detailed layman and scientific publications about this breakthrough will soon be released.

C. Fivet invited for a talk at U. of Michigan

Published:03.11.23 — On November 3rd, 2023, Corentin Fivet (Prof. at the Structural Xploration Lab) is providing a talk at the Taubman College – Architecture & Urban Planning, University of Michigan. Stemming from the Thesis Seminar on "Concrete Labor – Circularity", his talk will introduce recent research projects by the SXL dealing with the design of new methods to reuse load-bearing components from demolition sites to new building structures.

M. Bastien Masse invited at "Point de Mire 2023" by the ASR

Published:03.11.23 — On November 2nd, 2023, Maléna Bastien Masse (Research collaborator at the Structural Xploration Lab), was invited for a talk at the "Point de Mire 2023" event organized by ASR, the Swiss Association for the Recycling of Construction Materials. The event held in Lausanne was titled "putting the circular economy into practice in construction".

C. Küpfer invited for a talk at HVL, Norway

Published:03.11.23 — On October 26th, 2023, Célia Küpfer (PhD candidate at the Structural Xploration Lab), was invited to talk at the "Sustainability in Concrete Design – Does it take an engineer to design a building?" seminar event organized at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) and supported by Yngres Betongnettverk.