TCC Chur.

Thanks to the good and constructive cooperation as early as the competition phase, it was possible to design a slender supporting structure. The vertical load transfer takes place efficiently via two cores inside the building and filigree supports on the façades. The minimised cores also ensure the horizontal load transfer from wind and earthquakes.

The client was persuaded by the planning team to dispense with inserts and a floor structure. This reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of the 26 cm-thick concrete ceilings by a third. In addition, with the exception of the thermally active building component system (TABS), there are no inserts in the reinforced concrete walls and ceilings, which enables a particularly slim design. The wall thicknesses of the load-bearing walls have been reduced to a minimum and all installations are routed on plaster. The innovative client followed the advice of ZPF Ingenieure to reduce the requirements, particularly with regard to the impermeability of the concrete walls, to the extent actually necessary, thereby reducing the reinforcement content.

Another unconventional approach is to dispense with the reinforced concrete floor slab in the car park in favour of an asphalt surface, which further reduces the amount of concrete due to the large surface area. The right choice of material reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 59%. The civil engineer, architect and client specifically looked for suitable components for the new concrete enriched with biochar (KLARK). This was ultimately used for the exterior walls, the foundations of the car park and the non-load-bearing interior walls of the day cell. All other non-load-bearing interior walls are made of cement-stabilised clay bricks, which were also used in the exterior walls.

The new transport centre is Minergie-A-Eco® certified. Minergie-A buildings produce more energy than they consume, combining comfort with maximum energy independence. In the Eco standard, exclusion criteria prevent the use of systems and materials that are incompatible with sustainable construction. These include biocides, wood preservatives and harmful adhesives in interiors.

The net-zero target is achieved for the operation of the building (operating energy). The aim is to offset embodied energy during the construction of the building and touse materials that are as durable, recyclable and low in CO2 as possible. The reduction in 'embodied energy' is primarily achieved by reducing the use of materials and by avoiding materials and layers - for example, by not using false floors or suspended ceilings. Plastering, formwork and paint are avoided wherever possible. Recyclable materials are used in the interest of recycling.