Five questions for Alessio Colombo (participant Open Guest Lectures 2021 CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials)
"Inspired by the best": we are taking a closer look at what we claim to be. What are the sources of inspiration in continuing education? Alessio Colombo, co-founder of Ricehouse and participant in the Open Guest Lectures 2021 from the CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials, tells us what inspires him.
ETH School for Continuing Education: What drives your projects and your work?
Alessio Colombo: My desire for an ethical lifestyle in a circular economy shows me the way. From my job experience and with an eye to market needs I see a real opportunity for a different business model which also corresponds to my ethics. Nature already offers the materials we can use in the construction industry.
What, or who, particularly inspired you at ETH Zurich?
ETH Zurich is a professional platform whose topics can inspire not only students and researchers but also specialists from different sectors. We would also like to be part of this venture, to convey our experiences and stories.
The more you know, the more you see what you don’t know. With or without your students, have you experienced moments which made you more prudent, attentive, modest or cautious?
Moments with students are always an opportunity to look more closely at matters which have been previously experienced or analyzed in studies. That means seeing the potential of a second point of view. This gives me confidence. But I also pay more and more attention to students’ doubts. In our approach to the world of work it might be easier if we could speak about reality and concrete new opportunities, and emphasise the importance of soft skills.
What will you take away from your experience at ETH Zurich?
It was a great pleasure to participate in such a rich gathering of personalities involved in researching and developing biomaterials for architecture. The whole experience was organized excellently, creating educational training of great worth that allowed participants to deepen their understanding of bioconstruction topics in a comprehensive and effective way.
How will we build in the future?
We must all be more responsible in the future. There are fewer and fewer extractive materials, and the matter is real. Nature already offers us a great number of raw materials which can be used in buildings, and we have to pursue a circular economy – not only in plastering or insulation, but in full house systems. From furniture to tableware, the Ricehouse uses rice husks.
Alessio Colombo is a chartered geologist with more than 20 years of experience. Stimulated by the local circumstances and the problem created by the rice residues from 2010 he started the experimentation with by-products from the rice production and in 2016 co-founded external page Ricehouse Srl SB. Alessio is in charge of the R&D processes of the company, product development and the supply chain.
More information about the CAS ETH in Regenerative Materials.