Winter garden in Basel with a cat Material samples Earth architecture model Existing framework Test of construction earth

WELCOME

OUR APPROACH

adobe mould for earth construction

LAST PROJECT

South-east facade of the house

LAST ARTICLE

Earth bricks
Poster for the Rollois Climate Week.

Tuesday, 12.09.2023

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW: JOIN US AT ROLLOISE CLIMATE WEEK!

The aim of the Roller climate week is to highlight innovative solutions and best practices that can have a significant impact on the environment and the local community. Physalide will be hosting an awareness-raising workshop on construction-related issues.

Come and join us! →

Main facade of the house

Wednesday, 05.07.2023

LEMAN - ISSUANCE OF THE BUILDING PERMIT

The building permit was granted today for this MINERGIE renovation-extension of a villa in St-Sulpice. The project includes wood wool insulation around the perimeter of the existing building, timber-framed extensions and the replacement of the oil-fired heating system with a geothermal heat pump.

See the project →

Round table sustainable habitat and construction

Saturday, 10.06.2023

BUILDING AND LIVING WITHIN PLANETARY LIMITS

Alexia Schneider, co-founder of Physalide, took part in a round table discussion on the theme of “building and living within planetary limits” as part of the “Objectif Terre” festival. The discussions on the future of construction in the context of climate change were well attended by festival-goers. Many thanks to the organisers, moderators and other speakers for these enriching exchanges.

Objectif Terre →

Stand Objectif Terre

Friday, 09.06.2023

OBJECTIF TERRE FESTIVAL

Physalide was present at the Objectif Terre festival. The aim of the festival is to support the ecological transition, and Physalide was able to present the environmental issues linked to construction and the possible solutions for limiting its effects. Many thanks to Objectif Terre for the invitation.

Objectif Terre →

Ground floor plan

Monday, 01.05.2023

REBUILT - ISSUANCE OF THE BUILDING PERMIT

Physalide helped the students to draw up the necessary documents to obtain a building permit for the rebuiLT pavilion in Ecublens, an interdisciplinary project led by EPFL students exploring alternative, more environmentally-friendly construction and housing methods.

Discover the project and the association →

Logo la Maison Nature

Tuesday, 04.04.2023

LA MAISON NATURE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Today was the Annual General Meeting of the association la maison Nature, of which we are a member, which promotes ecology and the principles of sustainable development in the fields of ecological materials, water and energy management, healthy living, natural gardening and permaculture.

Discover the association →

Section of the house

Tuesday, 14.02.2023

COURBES ET RECOURBES - ISSUANCE OF THE BUILDING PERMIT

The construction permit has been granted for the first phase of work to convert a family home into two apartments. The permit covers the conversion of the garage into living space and the addition of two stoves, most of which will be self-built. The remainder of the work, notably the insulation of the existing part of the house and the replacement of the oil-fired boiler with a heat pump, will be carried out at a later stage.

See the project →

Logo MAS EDD-BAT

Friday, 03.02.2023

START OF MAS EDD-BAT

We are proud to inform you that Alexia is starting a Master of Advanced Study in Energy and Sustainable Development in the Built Environment (MAS EDD-BAT), with the aim of continuing to provide you with the best possible advice on building sustainability, which is Physalide’s DNA.

Discover the training →

EcoEglise logo

Monday, 23.01.2023

CONFERENCE ECOEGLISE

We were privileged to have been invited by the EcoEglise association to hold an online conference on the theme of green renovation and building, where we were able to present our vision of sustainable architecture and the levers for making our buildings healthy, low-carbon and resilient.

Discover the association →

Picture of the existing building

Thursday, 01.12.2022

SUR LA GRAND’RUE - ISSUANCE OF THE BUILDING PERMIT

Planning permission was granted today to convert the first floor of this former 18th century hospital into an apartment, and to replace the decentralized electric heating system with a geothermal heat pump.

Take a look at the project →

ECA’s logo

Thursday, 03.11.2022

FIRE PROTECTION TRAINING RAQ1

We are pleased to share with you that Damien has completed this course, which aims to help construction project planning professionals define the fire protection measures to be taken for Quality Insurance Level 1 projects, provide the appropriate documentation and monitor execution during construction.

Habitat Durable association logo

Saturday, 29.10.2022

HABITATDURABLE ADVISOR MEETING

As advisors to the Association Habitat Durable, we had the pleasure of taking part in this meeting and discussing the opportunities and challenges of green construction and renovation.

hepia’s logo

Wednesday, 14.09.2022

BIODIVERSITY TRAINING

Alexia had the opportunity to take part in this first edition of the “Biodiversity in the built environment” training course co-organized by the Maison de la Rivière and hepia. The second day dealt with the theme of water management in urban projects, and gave concrete examples of how planted spaces can be used to reduce the risk of flooding and landslides in cities.

Look at the training →

Physalide brochure

Wednesday, 17.08.2022

NEW BROCHURES

A new brochure explaining our philosophy, our work and our services is now available!

Project model

Tuesday, 12.07.2022

ADVENTICE - COMPETITION PUBLICATION

Come and discover our proposal for the sustainable district of Bourguillon in Fribourg, combining bioclimatism, biosourced materials and water recycling.

A place of collective housing where it is good to live.

Discover the project →

flyer diaspora award 2021-2022

Saturday, 21.05.2022

« COACHING » DAY

We had the pleasure to accompany candidates to the Diaspora & Development 2021-2022 prize of Fedevaco during a « coaching » day on project simulation and risks. We were able to bring our expertise in the field of sustainable construction and our experience in cooperation projects. We have been enriched by all these beautiful projects, we wish the best to all candidates!

Diaspora & Development Award 2021-2022, Fedevaco →

Presentation at Après-VD

Tuesday, 05.04.2022

PRESENTATION AT APRES-VD

We had the pleasure to share with the network of the Chamber of Social and Solidarity Economy Après-VD about our office and our work. Thank you all for your participation!

Read the summary →

Articles

Friday, 25.02.2022

NEW ARTICLE PAGE!

« What exactly is sustainable architecture? »

We are inaugurating a new page on our website which will bring together a range of articles to answer this question, painting an evocative picture of the environmental issues linked to building as well as the keys to tackling them positively.

This will answer all your questions and take you into the amazing world of ecological habitat! Enjoy your reading and see you soon for new articles!

Read our articles →

Cooperation

Wednesday, 05.01.2022

CHANGE IN ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Our articles of association are changing!
Physalide is now a non-profit limited liability company, one of the first examples in the canton of Vaud.
Physalide was founded with a single goal: to promote an architecture that respects our environment. Therefore, the non-profit limited liability company clearly translates this initial will to put our economic activity at the service of this goal!

The following two principles are now engraved in the legal DNA of Physalide:
• Pursue an ideal goal, not the search for profit.
• Reinvest the profit in the company for the pursuit of this goal and the associates renounce to dividends.

bathroom dismounting

Monday, 25.10.2021

START OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORK

The work on the bathroom renovation has begun! Having completed the various design phases of the project, we are now looking forward to the implementation phase. We strive to bring our projects into the circular economy loop, which is why the sanitary appliances have been deposited by a local company that will take care giving them a second life!

This way →

ground floor plan

Wednesday, 06.10.2021

HOLLY-WOOD - PUBLICATION OF COMPETITION

Our proposal for the Fondation HBM’s housing building in the new Cherpines eco-neighbourhood: a wooden building topped by a greenhouse with rainwater recovery and treatment of grey water by worm composting, integrated into a landscape of biodiversity and food production.
A project combining sustainable construction and lifestyles for a climate-compatible habitat.

Glimpse at the project →

3D image of the main bathroom

Tuesday, 10.08.2021

SNOW WHITE

The design of this four-bathroom renovation project is nearing completion. We look forward to the construction phase of this project.

View project →

Swiss architects declare Climate and biodiversity emergency

Monday, 12.07.2021

UNITED AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

We have joined some 130 Swiss architectural offices that are committed to climate and biodiversity. By signing this charter, we underline our commitment to environmentally friendly and sustainable architecture.

Discover the charter →

image of thewatercolor visualisation of a living unit

Tuesday, 25.05.2021

HATE-TOI LENTEMENT ! - PUBLICATION OF THE COMPETITION

A retirement home built with bio-based materials in the middle of a free-picking orchard with a life-size aviary inside? What better way to spend your retirement? We are pleased to present this project, the result of a rich collaboration with CArPE, 2401 and Atelier Nicolas Waechter.

Discover the project →

Logo habitat durable

Friday, 19.03.2021

ADVISORS FOR HABITATDURABLE

We are delighted to be a member of the association Habitatdurable, which works for rational land management, healthy living and climate-friendly construction. Discover this year’s programme of exciting activities!

Agenda Habitatdurable →

mac display showing a beautiful website

Friday, 15.01.2021

WEBSITE UPGRADE

Our website has a new look! We have reworked the design and navigation for a better experience, and are pleased to present our philosophy, beliefs and vision of architecture. Come and discover them!

Take a look at our philosophy →

greeting card

Friday, 01.01.2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We would like to wish you all a happy new year 2021, despite the particular context we are living in. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners, our staff and all the people who have placed their trust in us during this year. May 2021 bear fruit for a more responsible and sustainable future!

hay bales in a field from Matt Seymour

Tuesday, 15.12.2020

ONGOING TRAINING STRAW BUILDING

Physalide attaches great importance to the continuous training of its team. Fortunately, despite the pandemic, MOOCs and other online conferences remain active and we are pleased that Alexia Schneider was able to follow this training.

Take a look at the training description →

wooden framework of an old barn

Tuesday, 20.10.2020

CHANTOISEAU - FINAL PRESENTATION

Here is the feasibility study report finalized, bound and delivered to its owners. We have presented the various conclusions of the analysis and hope that they will be useful for the future development of this barn-to-unit conversion project. We look forward to seeing this project take shape!

See project →

multi-purpose room in a collective housing project

Monday, 24.08.2020

OIKOS - COMPETITION PUBLISHED

We are proud to present our latest competition, which was held in April, for the transformation of offices into housing and common areas. This project focuses on the reuse of building materials as an architectural solution with the aim of sustainability and durability, saving materials and waste.

See project →

old facade and garden

Friday, 10.07.2020

NEW TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

We had the pleasure of visiting a beautiful farm where the owners are planning to convert the barn. It is not always easy to determine the potential for renovation, the laws in force and the associated costs, which is why we were mandated to draw up a feasibility study before beginning any type of project. We look forward to beginning this analysis!

See project →

new business cards

Tuesday, 12.05.2020

NEW GRAPHIC CHARTER

We are pleased to introduce you to our new corporate design, which was developed in collaboration with Lucie Bühlmann from Esoes. We would like to thank her for her freshness and creativity!

Visit Esoes website →

our website

Friday, 24.04.2020

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHING

Our new website is online … and you’re on it! We hope you’ll have as much fun discovering it as we had designing it.

poster of course on reuse

Monday, 23.03.2020

ONGOING TRAINING ON REUSE

Physalide associates continue to train in the fields of sustainable construction and therefore take advantage of the lockdown to deepen their knowledge on the reuse of construction materials to remedy the increase in (de)construction waste.

Look at the MOOC description →

Earth model of the new offices

Thursday, 19.12.2019

KOSALAKA - FINAL REVIEW

We are pleased to present our project for the expansion of the offices of the Salvation Army Headquarters in Brazzaville which aims at adapting to the local climate in order to avoid internal overheating, so common in modern buildings in the capital of Congo.

See project →

INAC’s operation diagram

Friday, 04.12.2020

FUNDING REQUEST FOR INAC’S RESTRUCTURATION

We collaborated with local actors to write and submit the funding application for the project to restructure the National Institute for the Blind of Congo (INAC), a long term but very promising project! We hope that the funds can be granted so that the visually impaired population in Brazzaville may encounter a lasting positive change.

See project →

scheme with water painting on solar protection

Friday, 27.09.2019

KOSALAKA - PRESENTATION OF PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES

In order to reduce the overheating of buildings in the tropics and therefore the need for air-conditioning (and their associated costs), it is necessary for the architecture to follow some basic principles (solar protection, night ventilation, thermal phase shift, etc.) which have been discussed during this visual and accessible presentation to the project owner.

See project →

facade of the church

Monday, 19.08.2019

SELF-BUILT CHURCH EXTENSION

We are pleased to be able to accompany a religious community in the expansion of its church. The challenge is to design a contextual architecture using local materials easily accessible in Brazzaville that will be self-constructed by the community itself. Very motivating and inspiring!

See project →

Scheme production of compressed earth blocks

Monday, 15.07.2019

RESEARCH ON LOCAL MATERIALS

We are convinced that architectural projects need to be contextualized in order to be truly successful. Thus we are carrying out a precise study of the building materials available in Brazzaville in order to develop affordable and realistic projects, while being adapted to the climate and culture of the place.

Take a look at the analysis →

Sgraffito on earth plaster

Monday, 01.07.2019

TRAINING ON EARTH CONSTRUCTION

Physalide considers continuing education, whatever its form, as an essential lever for a good professional qualification. The associates thus had the opportunity to participate in two training/construction sites on earth construction, one on cob and the other on rendering. A promising technique for reusing excavation « waste »!

Congo Brazzaville Pool man rebuilds his house in adobe

Wednesday, 08.05.2019

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE POOL REGION

The Pool is a region emerging from the civil war that has suffered much destruction. People who have fled the conflict are gradually returning to their villages to discover their destroyed houses. The objective of this visit was to assess the damage and to understand the local construction methods in order to develop a long-term aid project for this region. Why not provide some of the basic materials? Pay local craftsmen to rebuild the houses of the most vulnerable people? Or set up a vocational training school for resilient construction?

Congo Brazzaville classrooms under the mongo trees

Wednesday, 01.05.2019

VISIT OF THE POTENTIAL SITES FOR INAC

The National Institute for the Blind of Congo is in a delicate situation: contentious terrain, a failing system, lack of subsidies. The idea is to rethink the programme in depth for quality inclusive education with adapted means. One of the first challenges will be to choose the most suitable terrain to host this new INAC. Visits, (many) discussions and a precise analysis of needs and potentials are in order!

See project →

Congo Brazzaville emergency program woman agriculture

Wednesday, 21.11.2018

REPORTING FROM THE POOL

Aid projects for the victims of the Pool’s civil war have been carried out by the Salvation Army of Congo. These projects have been financially supported by the Salvation Army of Switzerland, who asked us to report on their activities, which will be used in particular to conduct future fundraising for similar projects.

Congo Brazzaville destroyed school during civil war

Thursday, 11.10.2018

VISIT OF THE POOL REGION

The Pool is a region that emerged from civil war less than a year ago. As the exiled populations are gradually returning to their devastated villages, the Salvation Army wanted to carry out a needs analysis in order to set up various aid projects.