What’s happening around Windows of Opportunities? Follow our research, publications and projects on the circular window economy
This summer, ZHAW, together with Glas Trösch Group, SWICA, Birchmeier Gruppe and with the support of FOEN, launched a pilot project on flat glass recycling.
At the SWICA building in Winterthur, 375 window sashes were dismantled, stored and separated by material before demolition. The goal: to reintroduce recycled flat glass into the replacement building designed by Adrian Streich Architekten – creating a closed loop for windows.
Congratulations to point0 for winning 4th prize in the housing competition! Windows of Opportunities supported the team on reuse strategies, focusing on window reuse — from integrating reclaimed glass in curtain walls to doubling standardized windows for high thermal performance.
Some of the windows collected in Amden now form the meeting room of co-struct. The timber structure is built from reused wood, and the entire construction is designed for disassembly — nothing is glued.
Soon we will launch a pilot project to recycle old windows into float glass — a first in Switzerland. This will mark a major step toward reducing CO₂ emissions and closing the material loop for building glass.
At the AEC Hackathon in Winterthur, our team developed the foundation of a specialized window database. The prototype includes a feature that automatically evaluates the reuse and recycling potential of windows, setting the stage for a digital tool to support circular strategies in the building sector.
We recently took out several windows and effortlessly removed them in seconds – including the frames. These double-glazed windows from 2020 are in excellent condition. We are currently investigating whether they can be reused in new projects.
Thanks to the InnoCheque, we were able to build our first reusable window prototype.
Come and see the prototype in the Werkstückhalle. It’s open every working day from 9am to 5pm.
We now offer an in house testing station that allows us to assess the U-value of any window in just three days, meeting the requirements of ISO 9869-1:2014 section 7.1. These tests can also be carried out at demolition and construction sites.
Through RE-WIN, an organisation that sends old Swiss windows to Ukraine for reconstruction, we had the opportunity to host an exhibition at the Basel 2023 Open House. As part of the event, we organised a window-themed memory game to engage and entertain visitors.
