Building with Regional Materials

The Potential of Vals Quartzite

During the spring semester of 2026, students of the ZHAW Master's Studio Urban Project, led by Thomas Hildebrand and Mirjam Niemeyer, explored the potential of regional resources for sustainable building culture, focusing on Vals quartzite.

In collaboration with Truffer AG, the students investigated the extraction, processing and structural possibilities of natural stone. This research resulted in five architectural projects that combine traditional building methods with innovative construction techniques, often integrating locally sourced timber.

The projects range from a new production hall at the quarry and a residential building with a load-bearing natural stone structure to a riverside swimming facility, a mountain station and a greenhouse and mushroom cultivation facility that makes use of locally available waste heat.

The exhibition demonstrates how regional building materials can not only reduce CO₂ emissions but also strengthen local value creation, reinterpret existing building traditions and open up new perspectives for the spatial, economic and social future of Vals.