The UMAR (Urban Mining & Recycling) Experimental Unit at Empa in Dübendorf, Switzerland, led by Werner Sobek with Dirk E. Hebel and Felix Heisel, showcases how sustainable construction can merge innovative materials with functional, modular design. The building demonstrates life-cycle thinking, with every component designed to be fully reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and incorporates prefabricated elements, including untreated wood, metals, recycled insulation, and cultivated mycelium boards. In the bathrooms, Smile Materials’ recycled Black Dapple panels bring a bold, terrazzo-like surface that is both durable and hygienic, perfectly complementing the unit’s experimental, modular ethos. By combining striking aesthetics with rigorous environmental standards, UMAR illustrates the potential of recycled materials to elevate interior spaces while inspiring a circular, responsible approach to design and construction.

Design & Project Planning: Werner Sobek with Dirk E. Hebel and Felix Heisel
Structural Planning: Kaufmann Zimmerei und Tischlerei GmbH
Client: Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Photography: Zooey Braun