Building
Buildings and infrastructure frame social and economic life. We integrate technical, economic, and institutional dimensions of building to support more sustainable and inclusive built environments.
Safe and functional buildings and infrastructure determine living standards and the economic potential of towns and cities. Construction creates jobs and other opportunities across building value chains. Yet rapid urbanisation is often characterised by inadequate buildings and infrastructure, and conventional construction damages the natural environment through excessive resource extraction, CO2 emissions, and energy consumption.
SKAT understands the complexity of technical, economic, cultural, and institutional factors that determine forms of buildings and infrastructure and methods of construction. We engage across building value chains and market systems to improve building sustainability. We focus on the context of rapid urbanisation and reconstruction in order to optimise our impact.
Our core competencies are in sustainable construction and inclusive settlements.
From new ideas we develop practical solutions to support communities, businesses and governments in building more sustainable and inclusive built environments.
Core competencies
Sustainable Construction & Supply Chains
Construction and use of buildings and infrastructure account for around a third of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce the environmental impact of urbanisation, more sustainable approaches to building design and construction must be adopted.
At SKAT we draw on the rapidly evolving range of solutions for improving building sustainability, including low-emissions materials, circular approaches that reduce waste, systems for improved building energy efficiency, and procedures for responsible management of construction and demolition waste. In applying and promoting these solutions we engage across building value chains to optimise employment and business opportunities. We work across building market systems, including regulatory frameworks and drivers of demand, to scale sustainable building solutions.
Inclusive Settlements
Inclusive settlements provide access to adequate, affordable housing and essential public services in an equitable and environmentally responsible manner. SKAT supports the development of inclusive settlements through participatory planning processes, especially in the context of informal settlements, by enabling neighbourhood communities and builders to upgrade their settlements and construct safe and affordable houses, and by supporting local authorities to build urban governance capacity and provide effective public services.
building services
SKAT offers tailored and reliable services to organisations working in international cooperation – government agencies, foundations, NGOs and impact investors – as well as to associations and companies in Switzerland who benefit from our international expertise and global perspective.
SKAT offers its building-related expertise through project implementation, consultancy, and facilitation & knowledge sharing.
