Circular Construction

The Circular (Re)Construction cluster focuses on sustainable rebuilding efforts in Ukraine, combining innovative approaches to reconstruction with the principles of circularity—minimizing waste, maximizing resource efficiency, and promoting local community involvement. In the wake of war and displacement, the cluster aims to address urgent housing and infrastructure needs while fostering long-term environmental and social resilience. Central to this effort are two key initiatives: the NGO “RE-WIN” in Switzerland and the Charitable Foundation “CO-HATY” in Ukraine.

RE-WIN: Circular Solutions for Ukrainian Reconstruction

Mission and Activities RE-WIN, a Basel-based NGO established in 2022, is committed to advancing circular construction practices and addressing humanitarian needs in Ukraine. Its primary initiative, “Windows for Ukraine,” reclaims used windows from Swiss construction sites, reinstalling them in Ukraine by local partner NGOs. These windows enable communities to rebuild homes, providing immediate relief and fostering sustainable practices.

Achievements by 2025 Despite operating with a volunteer-driven model and limited personnel in Ukraine, RE-WIN has made significant contributions:

~ 9,243 windows delivered, offering essential building materials for reconstruction.
~ 4,621 homes restored, ensuring warmth and safety for displaced families.
~ 1,297 tons of CO2 emissions avoided, highlighting the environmental benefits of reuse.
~ 3.2 million CHF saved, reducing reconstruction costs for Ukrainian communities.

Beyond material aid, RE-WIN has raised awareness about circular reconstruction through exhibitions, workshops, and cultural exchanges with, among others, Ukrainian refugees, thus strengthening ties between Switzerland and Ukraine. These efforts have brought the organization closer to its goals of integrating reuse into regional crisis recovery strategies, fostering a culture of resource care, and promoting the preservation of natural resources.

Future Goals In the coming year, RE-WIN aims to expand its focus to include additional reusable materials, establish circular material supply chains and build up capacity for circular de/reconstruction, while continuing to support Ukraine’s recovery through:

Establishing reuse as a core component of reconstruction.
Promoting closed material cycles to reduce waste.
Advocating for sustainable practices in rebuilding efforts.

Achievements 2025
In 2025, RE-WIN rescued and installed over 3,000 windows to Ukraine, bringing the total to nearly 9,300 windows provided to communities affected by war. Around 1,500 households directly improved their living conditions through better thermal comfort and reduced heating costs. At the same time, more than 175 tons of waste were diverted from disposal in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, preventing approximately 420,000 kg of CO₂ emissions.

Beyond numbers, the project demonstrated tangible impact and quality. As one beneficiary shared: “Recently, there was a direct hit right on the street. Everything around was bombed… The windows in the hospital buildings were blown out, but none of our glass was broken.”

An independent evaluation confirmed the project’s relevance, effectiveness, and significant environmental and psychosocial benefits, while also identifying areas for technical and logistical improvement in future phases.

The project was made possible through thousands of volunteer hours. Countless hands contributed to dismantling, sorting, packaging, transport coordination, administration, and fundraising. RE-WIN is deeply grateful to committed developers who enabled access to materials, passionate architects who championed reuse, and dedicated site managers who ensured smooth implementation without major incidents or delays.

The warehouse days evolved beyond logistics into spaces of encounter. They became moments of shared meals, Ukrainian culture, lived solidarity, and intercultural exchange — strengthening community ties across borders.

At the same time, RE-WIN advanced innovation in circular construction. Together with demolition companies, it developed scalable reverse logistics approaches to systematically reduce waste. With support from Innosuisse, RE-WIN published the study “RE-USE Höfe – Circular Supply Chains through Window Reuse”, translating practical experience into structured knowledge.

RE-WIN also actively shared its learnings through professional journals such as Hochparterre and Architecture Daily, as well as panels, educational events, and advisory boards. Through this outreach, the network expanded and the visibility of circular humanitarian reconstruction continued to grow.

Planned Activities 2026–2027
In the coming phase, RE-WIN will focus on three strategic priorities:

Warehouse 3.0 – Establishing a new reuse hub in Wohlen (Bern) as a testbed and community space for circular construction practices.

Communication & Knowledge Transfer – Strengthening documentation, exhibitions, publications, and digital tools (including a window-tracking interface) to make impact measurable and transferable.

Representative Pilot Projects in Ukraine – Implementing demonstrative reconstruction projects to showcase circular economy principles in humanitarian rebuilding, with a focus on repair, maintenance, and strengthening local capacities.

Additionally, RE-WIN aims to professionalise reverse logistics, improve installation standards, support refugee training in deconstruction skills, and further embed circular economy principles in long-term recovery efforts.

CO-HATY: Housing Solutions for Displaced Ukrainians

Mission and Context CO-HATY, a social and affordable housing initiative by METALAB and Urban Curators, provides housing solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in western Ukraine. By repurposing abandoned buildings rather than constructing new ones, CO-HATY ensures that reconstruction efforts are both sustainable and socially inclusive. The project not only provides shelter but also restores dignity and quality of life to those who have lost their homes due to war.

Approach and Impact CO-HATY employs a circular approach to housing:

Resource Efficiency: Furnishing homes with second-hand furniture, kitchen items, and other essentials donated by charities.
Local Sourcing: Procuring materials locally to reduce carbon footprints and support the wartime economy.
In-House Production: Utilizing METALAB’s Makerspace “Pole” in Ivano-Frankivsk and local suppliers to produce or repair furniture and construction elements.

By repurposing materials and minimizing waste, CO-HATY saves nearly 50% of embodied energy compared to traditional construction methods. These efforts not only benefit the environment but also contribute to the economic recovery of local communities.

Achievements by 2025 - beginning of 2026
Construction was completed in Shypynky (14 apartments) and Horodok (28 apartments), enabling families to transition from temporary accommodation to stable long-term housing. Renovation of 49 affordable housing units in Kalush — our largest project to date — was launched, alongside the development of an adaptable financial management model to ensure sustainable operation. The programme improving living conditions in 20 collective shelters for approximately 2,000 residents continued, significantly upgrading basic infrastructure and dignity standards.

Beyond construction, CO-HATY strengthened its community-centred approach through public events, resident engagement activities, and the launch of a community programme for the “Zirochka” housing complex in Kalush. Training for future building managers was delivered, and a transparent and socially sensitive tenant selection system was developed.

In partnership with RE-WIN, we transported a truck of reused building elements from Switzerland — including carpets, radiators, and doors — and integrated them into new projects. A key achievement was the successful installation of reused Swiss radiators in Ukrainian shelters, demonstrating that cross-border material reuse is feasible even within different technical heating systems.

In 2025, the CO-HATY team participated in multiple international events, including the Construction of Hope exhibition at the Chicago Architecture Center, the International Social Housing Festival in Dublin, the Women in Architecture conference in Berlin, the Building Ecologically Round Table in Paris, and the Vidnova Forum in Berlin.

Planned Activities

Fundraising: Closing the remaining financial gap of €170,000 to complete the 10th CO-HATY project in Kalush. Looking for new opportunities for next projects
Public Outreach: Participating in three international exhibitions, including Akademie der Künste (Berlin), ARCH+ (Berlin), and Paris, finalisation of the book about CO-HATY “Beyond Shelter” to share Ukraine’s experience of non-profit housing and socially responsible reconstruction.
Research and Development: Conducting studies on circular construction and advancing cross-border material reuse practices in collaboration with RE-WIN.
Institutional Development: Further strengthening the institutional capacity of the CO-HATY Charitable Foundation to scale and replicate the non-profit housing model across Ukraine.

Building a Sustainable Future for Ukraine

The Circular (Re)Construction cluster exemplifies the transformative potential of sustainable rebuilding. RE-WIN and CO-HATY demonstrate how circularity can address immediate needs while laying the foundation for long-term recovery and resilience in Ukraine. Together, these initiatives:

Highlight the importance of material reuse in reducing environmental impacts and reconstruction costs.
Support the integration of displaced individuals into communities, fostering social and economic recovery.
Promote collaboration between local and international partners to scale up sustainable rebuilding efforts.

By advancing these goals, the cluster not only contributes to Ukraine’s recovery but also sets a global example of how circular reconstruction can bridge borders with care for people and the planet.

Contacts

Anna Dobrova
Co-founder of NGO “METALAB” and Charitable Fund “CO-HATY” in Ukraine, member of RE-WIN, currently based in Basel, employed at CSD Ingenieur in the development of the Circular Economy department
Email: anna.dobrova@metalab.space

Anastasia Ponomaryova
Co-founder of NGO “Urban Curators” and Charitable Fund “CO-HATY” in Ukraine, former research fellow at ETH Zurich
Email: ponomaryovashtefan@gmail.com

Felix Dillman
ETH, General Manager of RE-WIN
Email: f.dillmann@re-win.ch
General inquiries: info@re-win.ch

Photo by Tania Pashynska

Photo by Nazar Dnes

Photo by Yaruna Onifrienko