Sustainability in construction is often discussed in terms of energy efficiency, building technology and renewable energy. Yet an equally important aspect begins much earlier: with the question of which materials we use, how long they can remain in use and what happens to them when a building changes. Particularly in high-end interior construction, this is giving rise to a new approach to planning. For construction companies and general contractors in Switzerland, the circular economy therefore means far more than recycling. It is about durable materials, flexible constructions, reusable building components and planning that anticipates future adaptations from the outset. For us at Anlela Design, precisely this combination of design, material quality and long-term usability is an essential part of good interior design.
The circular economy is becoming an integral part of Swiss construction
The regulatory framework is changing. Most of the legislative amendments aimed at strengthening the Swiss circular economy came into force on 1 January 2025. This has given resource conservation and the circular economy a stronger foundation in environmental law. In the construction sector, the cantons are now tasked, among other things, with setting limits for embodied energy in new buildings and major renovations. At the same time, the federal government has been given additional powers to define requirements for resource-efficient construction. For general contractors, this sends a clear signal: material selection, embodied emissions and reusability will play an increasingly important role in future planning.
However, the circular economy should not be regarded as an additional ecological discipline that is added to a construction project at a later stage. Good circular architecture begins with classic qualities: robust materials, clean detailing, comprehensible construction methods and solutions designed to function over the long term. Much of this reflects precisely the approach that has traditionally characterised high-quality Swiss construction.
The most important step is not recycling, but longevity
A high-quality material that can remain in use for decades is often more sensible than a short-lived product that merely carries an ecological label. Natural stone, solid wood, metal, high-quality textile surfaces or carefully crafted built-in elements have long-term value when they are properly planned, installed and maintained.
For interior construction, this means selecting materials not solely on the basis of their appearance. Their ability to age well, be repaired, replaced and separated from other materials should also form part of the decision-making process. A wooden floor that can be sanded several times, built-in furniture with replaceable fronts or a natural stone slab that can be dismantled and reused elsewhere follows a fundamentally different principle from bonded composite systems whose individual components can hardly be separated at the end of their useful life.
Design for Disassembly: considering dismantling from the installation stage
A key concept in circular construction is “Design for Disassembly”. Structures are planned in such a way that they can later be dismantled as far as possible without being destroyed. In interior construction, this includes mechanically fixed wall coverings, screwed rather than permanently bonded connections, modular built-in furniture and easily accessible technical installations.
Minergie-ECO also incorporates these principles. For new buildings, criteria assessed include durability, flexibility of use, accessibility of technical installations, reuse and ease of dismantling. This turns an approach that is particularly relevant to general contractors into a quality criterion: a building should not only function when it is handed over, but should also be prepared for future conversions, changes of use and technical upgrades.
Why interior construction plays a key role
Interior spaces in particular often undergo several changes over the lifetime of a building. Usage requirements change, owners change, kitchens and bathrooms are renovated, layouts are adapted and technical systems are replaced. While the structural framework and building envelope often remain in place for many decades, interior construction undergoes significantly shorter renewal cycles.
This is precisely where there is particularly great potential for effective planning. If interiors are designed flexibly, future changes can be implemented with less intervention in the existing building fabric. For construction companies, this does not mean sacrificing individuality. On the contrary: precisely planned modular solutions, high-quality built-in elements and clearly separated material layers can be both sophisticated in design and adaptable over the long term.
Re-use requires planning – not improvisation on the construction site
Reused building components can give a project character while also conserving resources. However, re-use only works reliably when availability, dimensions, technical properties, condition, logistics and responsibilities are clarified in good time. This is precisely what distinguishes professional circular construction from spontaneous material salvage.
A study published by the City of Zurich in 2026 on the Juch-Areal recycling centre clearly demonstrates the importance of early integration. Among other things, the study identifies the sourcing of building components, dismantling, storage, logistics, quality assurance, digital component passports, liability issues and changing project roles as key elements of successful re-use planning. Reuse should therefore be integrated into the project organisation as early as possible.
For general contractors, this leads to a clear conclusion: anyone wishing to offer re-use solutions needs reliable decision-making processes. Materials and components must be identified, assessed and incorporated into the planning at an early stage. Interior design can play a coordinating role here because design, material specification, detailed planning and use all converge directly.
Zurich demonstrates how the circular economy can be implemented in practice
The City of Zurich is already pursuing a consistent approach. For municipal renovations and new buildings, assessments are to be carried out to determine whether building components can be reused or repurposed. This includes re-use potential assessments and component screenings. If no suitable elements are found within the respective project, the search is extended to external suppliers. The underlying idea is remarkable: the existing city is increasingly being regarded as a material bank.
A visible example of this is the new Juch-Areal recycling centre in Zurich-Altstetten. The project reuses steel and concrete components from existing buildings, among other materials. According to the City of Zurich, this can save almost 600 tonnes of CO2, or more than 40 percent of embodied emissions, compared with conventional construction. At the same time, the building is being designed according to the principle of disassembly and implemented using BIM as a continuous digital information model.
For the private construction sector, this project is particularly interesting because it demonstrates that circularity is not merely a theoretical sustainability strategy. It has a very concrete impact on procurement, planning, scheduling and execution.
High-end interior design and re-use are not contradictory
In exclusive properties, there is sometimes a concern that reused materials could diminish the high-quality appearance of an interior. From our perspective, this view falls short. What matters is not whether a material is new or has already been used, but the quality it possesses and how it is integrated into the overall design context.
Carefully restored natural stone, a solid wooden door, historic fittings or high-quality crafted furniture can possess a depth and character that new standardised products may only develop after decades. At the same time, not every element of a project needs to come from re-use sources. Good circular planning means continuing to use existing materials where it makes sense and introducing new materials where they provide the better long-term solution in functional or aesthetic terms.
Local materials and Swiss craftsmanship extend life cycles
Another strength lies in regional material sourcing and skilled craftsmanship. Short transport distances are only one aspect. At least as important is the ability to repair, adapt or further develop products at a later stage. A bespoke built-in piece made by a Swiss joinery can often be modified or repaired more easily than an industrial system whose components may no longer be available after just a few years.
This way of thinking also reflects our approach at Anlela Design. Timeless interior design is not created by using as many new products as possible, but through careful curation. Materials should feel good, age gracefully and form a lasting connection with the architecture. Particularly in villas, high-end apartments and sophisticated residential projects in Zurich and throughout Switzerland, this approach creates value that extends far beyond short-lived trends.
What general contractors should consider from the planning stage
Circular interior construction works best when the relevant decisions are not postponed until the tendering or execution phase. Material assemblies, fastening methods, potential replacement cycles and the accessibility of technical components should already be considered during the design stage. Equally important is the question of which elements of an existing building can be retained, refurbished or integrated into a new concept.
For general contractors, this can create a competitive advantage. Those who can offer clients not only construction services but also well-considered long-term material and usage concepts position themselves strongly in a market where embodied emissions, resource efficiency and life-cycle quality are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, design and technical decisions can be coordinated more effectively when interior design, architecture and execution are aligned at an early stage.
Sustainability needs less fashion and more consistency
The circular economy will change construction in Switzerland. Yet not every new method needs to be understood as a radical break with established building practices. Many of the most sensible principles are remarkably traditional: build with good materials, keep constructions comprehensible, repair rather than replace and deliver quality that is made to last.
What is new is primarily that this approach is being systematically translated into planning, documentation and material cycles. Digital component catalogues, re-use screenings and material passports complement traditional craftsmanship rather than replacing it.
Anlela Design as a partner for circular interior construction
For Anlela Design, circular interior construction does not mean subordinating aesthetics to an ecological concept. Our aim is to combine both: high-quality spatial design, precise material specification and solutions that stand the test of time. In collaboration with construction companies and general contractors, we can develop material concepts, bespoke built-in elements, spatial planning and detailed design solutions at an early stage and coordinate them with the requirements of execution.
Particularly for sophisticated properties in Zurich and throughout Switzerland, this creates interiors that do more than impress at the time of completion. They remain adaptable, repairable and retain their value over the long term. For us, this is not a short-lived design trend, but a contemporary evolution of good building culture.