How Zurich Blazed a Trail for Recycled Concrete

The Swiss city requires recycled concrete to be used in the construction of public buildings. Now other cities are following its lead.

The David Chipperfield-designed extension to Kunsthaus Zurich, the main art gallery in Zurich, is built with a share of 98% recycled concrete.

Source: David Chipperfield Architects

As more and more new buildings are erected around the world, one city in Europe is trying to make the concrete jungle a bit greener.

Zurich has quietly become a frontrunner in advancing environmentally friendly construction, adopting green measures long before most companies started publicly emphasizing their sustainability.