Mirthe Hummel & Simon Köppel

HXE stands as the oldest building on campus—a silent witness to a history predating ETH Hönggerberg itself. For over 70 years, it has endured, unmentioned in any of the five masterplans that shaped this campus.Yet today, this resilient structure faces demolition to make way for an 80-meter tower—heralded as a symbol of innovation and sustainability.

But HXE is more than just a building. It is a living testament to the very principles of sustainability we must embrace: resilience, adaptability, and sufficiency. It shows us that true innovation doesn’t mean discarding the past, but transforming it.We propose a future grounded in reuse and creative repurposing. Rather than erasing HXE, we will extend it using materials drawn from Bauteil Kataloge and the remnants of the Huber pavilions—honoring the past while strengthening the future. In doing so, we ensure HXE remains a vibrant, functional space that continues to serve evolving needs, especially those of student communities.

We also envision a campus reconnected to its agricultural roots—a productive landscape alongWolfgang Pauli Strasse and into the surrounding forests.This will link production to consumption, fostering sustainable practices and social cohesion across the campus.

By preserving HXE, we preserve more than just a building.We nurture community, identity, and the values of sufficiency. Let ETH Hönggerberg lead by example into a future where historical, social, and ecological sustainability are not aspirations—but grounded realities.