The proof in practice.
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"
OPENLY Valley Widnau breaks records
Largest "hemp house" in Europe (as of 2024)
Serial timber hybrid construction realized with Schöb AG and CANCRET20% higher net rents than reference value
Savings of approx. 900t CO2 (> -50%) compared to a conventional building to 6 kg CO2 / m2 EBF (ecobaudat 5.3 kg)
KfW 40, GEAK A, Minergie P with Airbox, Plus Energy (Minergie A)
One of the first apartment buildings in Europe to be constructed completely CO2-neutral (according to DGNB) taking biogenic carbon sinks into account. See Carbon Removal Certificates.
Large biochar concreting stage (300m3 on 21.8.2023). Immediately applicable worldwide with partner CarstorCon
Largest Swiss project with re-use of steel beams
First project with 100% recycled and CO2 neutralized reinforcing steel from AFV Beltrame.
For the passivity of the timber construction: 400,000 kg of clay in the ceilings and 48,000 kg of clay building boards for apartment partition walls
Prefabricated wet rooms by dade design with heat recovery (Joulia) and CO2-neutralized appliances (Geberit & Dornbracht)
141% plus energy; 12.6 KWH effective heating and hot water energy requirement per m2 of floor space, achieved with a digital home control system and energy management, integrated storage with battery and water, controlled living space ventilation with OPENLY airboxes
Pioneering work
Scaling away from startup noise
OPENLY's vision is to turn office and residential buildings from carbon emitters into carbon sinks. To date, no one has achieved a commercially scalable building system that would promote further carbon capture and storage.
The OPENLY construction system reduces construction emissions by > 50% and, with 6 kg CO2 emissions per m2, achieves the statutory target values for Denmark for 2029 at comparable construction costs of CHF 3000/m2 GFA. Because only innovations that generate EBIT are truly sustainable.
We are driven by climate change, because 25% of global annual CO2 emissions come from the construction industry. That is around 8 times more than all air traffic.
As a global society, we need to find an answer to this and focus on fossil-free and, where possible, renewable and recyclable building materials.
Buildings as carbon sinks - our mission.
Read Andy Keel's Openly Manifesto
(Groundbreaker)
Switzerland
Valley Widnau
Switzerland Valley Widnau
Facts about OPENLY
Valley Widnau
Total project volume: CHF 13 million (19 apartments)
Project developer: OPENLY AG
General planner: OPENLY AG
Building application stage 1: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
Lead architects: Sandra Schuster & Jürgen Oswald
Color design: Meerevilla
Specialist planners & construction management: See Openly Partner
3082m2 GFA (2068 EBF); 8 rental apartments, 11 condominiums sold and occupied in June 2024
Key Facts OPENLY Valley Widnau:
Construction costs (SIA 416)
(BKP2 incl. fees & VAT):
860 CHF / m3
3100 CHF / m2 gross floor area
4,400 CHF / m2 energy reference area
5,850 CHF/m2 net saleable floor area
Ratios:
Net floor area / gross floor area: 51%
Energy reference area / net floor area: 1.33
Underground area (GFA): 33%
Target construction costs Openly construction system:
3000 CHF/EUR per m2 gross floor area
Germany: minus KfW 40 subsidy (37,500 euros per apartment)
CO2 balance CH Valley Widnau
SIA 2032: 8.5kg / m2 EBF * 60 years
Effective according to KBOB: 6.9 kg
Effective according to KBOB without basement: 6.0
CO2 balance Europa Valley Widnau
QNG / DGNB (EN 15978): 7.9kg /m2 EBF * 60 years
Effective according to Ökobaudat: 6.2 kg
Effective according to Ökobaudat without UG: 5.3 kg
Electricity requirement Energy requirement:
(based on first year of operation, effective*, EBF)
Electricity requirement KWH Total incl. household electricity per m2: 21.1 KWH
Of which heating energy requirement incl. hot water per m2: 12.6 KWH
Plus energy ratio: 141%
Download key figures
Number of employees: 8 OPENLY & approx. 20 specialist planners
Construction time stage 1: 13 months (start of excavation to occupation)
Planning time: 17 months
* Energy measured, not calculated. A big difference that very few people care about. Surprisingly.
Photocredit: Jens Ellensohn
High res download: Openly/media