From material to strategy – circular thinking in construction
Swissbau, which begins on 20 January 2026, will focus not only on digitalisation and collaboration, but also on the key topic of circular economy and materials. The construction and real estate trade fair will offer lectures, panel discussions and practical examples on these topics.
This year’s Swissbau is focusing participants’ attention on the topic of circular economy and materials as one of seven key themes. With a total of 35 keynote sessions, panel discussions, themed events and practical solutions, it is the most prominent theme at the leading trade fair for the Swiss construction and real estate industry after digitalisation and collaboration, which has 38 events. Overall, the content on offer is grouped around seven key themes.
Swissbau 2026 will take place in Basel from 20 to 23 January under the motto “Setting new impulses together”. On 24 January, the new Trend World in Hall 1.2 of the exhibition centre will still be open.
The programme, with the main theme of circular economy and materials, will start on Tuesday, 20 January, with the themed event “Faster, cheaper, more sustainable: modularisation and prefabrication make construction projects better”. Speakers include Konrad Graser from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Fabian Franke from ERNE Holzbau, MOD founder and CEO Marc Beermann, and Tom Van Mele from VAULTED.
On Wednesday, 21 January, the keynote session “Building without materials – what does circular design need?” is scheduled. In this session, speakers from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts will use concrete examples to show how existing materials can be transferred to further cycles of use using new methods. Contributions will also come from Basler Bauteilbörse, Bau-Teilen GmbH and Flumroc AG.
A practical talk will highlight the technical and architectural aspects of wood as a material, while another will examine the possibilities and limitations of the circular economy using the example of laboratory buildings. The panel will discuss whether concrete can become “the game changer of the construction revolution”. The main event on Thursday, 22 January, will be the event on the topic of “The circular economy in practice – how can we solve conflicting goals together?”