ETH zurich's block research group completes complex, doubly curved concrete roof

after successfully building a prototype in 2017, researchers from the block research group (BRG) at ETH zurich have now completed a complex, doubly curved concrete roof in switzerland. the roof has been designed for NEST (next evolution in sustainable building technologies), a modular research and innovation building that seeks to accelerate innovation in the construction sector. conceived by gramazio kohler architects, NEST provides space for testing new building technologies in practice. 

image by stefan liniger | video courtesy of block research group, ETH zurich

NEST is owned by research institutes empa and eawag and is located on empa’s campus in dübendorf, 30 minutes outside of zurich. designed for the building’s HiLo unit, the roof has been completed by researchers from the block research group at ETH zurich in collaboration with partners from the construction industry. the expressive shell structure demonstrates how high (Hi) performance can be achieved with low (Lo) embodied emissions by combining efficient concrete structures with novel fabrication and construction methods.

image by stefan liniger

built on a cable-net and fabric flexible formwork, the project was realized through an integrated design-engineering-fabrication-construction process made possible by the open-source computational framework COMPAS. after years of research and development, the concrete roof is now complete and open to the elements. work on the construction site is continuing with interior work to begin in the coming months. the HiLo unit will be completed in 2021.

image by stefan liniger

image by juney lee

image by juney lee

project info:

name: NEST HiLo roof
location: dübendorf, switzerland
dates: 2019-2020
project by: block research group, ETH zurich
project partners: ROK, dr. schwartz consulting, bürgin creations, marti, jakob, bieri, künzli, pletscher, contec.
financial support: ETH zurich, dr. max rössler, empa, holcim switzerland