Materials of the future in new eco district
Category
News
Date
December 2022
Structural works on a Minergie-P/ECO certified eco district demand a proven track record in sustainable construction. This challenge was brilliantly taken up by our team of concrete and recycled materials experts whose specialist knowledge was a real asset to the project.
Located in Echallens, in the heart of the Gros-de-Vaud district, the Osiris project marks an important step in the development of this region currently undergoing rapid population growth. Close to the town centre and a stone’s throw from nature, this innovative eco district is open to all and is a model of sustainable building, planting and shared spaces – all conceived with sustainability in mind.
The project, which will be completed in 2023, was designed by several acclaimed architectural firms. It comprises a number of condominiums and commercial spaces, as well as rental properties. Selected for their expertise in sustainable construction, Nicolas Fehlmann Ingénieurs Conseils completed 9 out of the 17 buildings that make up the eco district.
Objective: sustainability
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Osiris is a benevolent protector god, and the inventor of agriculture. The eco district of the same name reflects a positive vision of the future. Designed to have a minimal environmental impact, the project takes a long-term economic and ecological perspective.
As such, the entire project complies with very stringent Minergie-P/ECO standards. These combine the requirements of the Minergie-P label in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency and the criteria of the Minergie-ECO label, which certifies the ecological quality of the materials used. Heating is provided by ground/water geothermal probes, solar panels, and a microgrid was installed for the electricity supply. An independent water retention system was also installed. At the same time, the structural works had to be carried out using environmentally friendly materials.
Recognised expertise in low-impact materials
This is where our engineers were able to showcase their unique expertise in the field. Halogen-free plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) were used for the pipework. For the building, we used recycled concrete – based on our advanced knowledge of these materials – as well as our extensive in-house research into the design of a new generation of cleaner and more environmentally friendly concretes.
Initiated in 2020, the structural works were recently completed – a major project that pushed the boundaries and one we are very proud to have been part of.
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