Digital Creativity for Circular Construction

The Oskar von Miller Forum welcomes Professor Catherine De Wolf, an internationally acclaimed leader in advancing circular practices in the built environment. Her lecture will focus on the intersection of digital innovation and sustainability, showcasing how technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital fabrication, and extended reality are revolutionizing architecture and engineering. Highlighting real-world applications, Professor De Wolf will demonstrate how circular economy principles can transform construction by reusing materials, reducing waste, and designing for a sustainable future.

Lecture will be in English

Photo © ETH Zurich

Professor Catherine De Wolf is the director of the Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) at ETH Zurich. Her work bridges civil engineering and architecture, emphasizing digital technologies that promote a circular economy in construction. A PhD graduate of MIT, she has led pioneering collaborations, such as repurposing glass from the Centre Pompidou in Paris and timber from Zurich’s Huber pavilions.

In addition to her academic role, she serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Augmented Computational Design (Design++), a faculty member of the ETH AI Center, and a key contributor to the Future Cities Laboratory and National Centre of Competence in Research on Digital Fabrication. Her industry partnerships and international experience—ranging from Cambridge and TU Delft to Nanjing and Kuwait—underline her global influence on sustainable design and construction practices

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology, renowned for its innovation and commitment to solving global challenges. The Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture (CEA) drives research at the intersection of digital technologies and sustainable construction, focusing on fostering a circular economy in architecture and engineering.

The institution hosts cutting-edge initiatives such as the National Centre of Competence in Research on Digital Fabrication (DFAB) and collaborates globally with academic and industrial partners. Professor De Wolf’s leadership at ETH Zurich exemplifies the university’s dedication to interdisciplinary approaches in tackling environmental and societal challenges through groundbreaking research and education.