New Book “Free Global Cities” Features Sustainable and Efficient Housing Insights from Citra Founders

Addressing the critical need for housing in the face of the world’s largest displacement crisis, the co-founders of Citra have contributed a pivotal chapter to the new book, “Free Global Cities”. This new publication, edited by Christian H Kälin, outlines a model for creating safe, self-governed communities for refugees and migrants, enabling them to rebuild their lives, create wealth, and contribute to their host nations.

“A quality home is the foundation of a good life, happy families and strong communities,” said Benno Büeler, co-founder and chairman of Citra. “Novel building and production technologies, using efficient materials and automation, can make it possible to achieve this much faster and more economically than ever before.”

In their feature, entitled ‘Sustainable and Efficient Housing Construction,’ co-founders Benno Büeler, Joel Baur, and Andreas Graf analyze the critical role of housing in such settlements. They discuss current industry trends and present Citra Building Technology as a powerful example of what is currently possible — building high-quality, affordable, and sustainable housing quickly, even in remote locations.

The Citra founders delve into the primary obstacles facing large-scale construction projects, including the enormous capital required, major logistical challenges, and a significant ecological impact. The authors highlight that the construction, operation, and demolition of buildings account for over a third of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, citing a UN technical report that places the figure at approximately 37% for 2021.

“These challenges—the immense cost and the staggering environmental impact—aren’t just abstract problems; they represent the barriers keeping millions of people from having a safe, quality home,” said Joel Baur, co-founder and CEO of Citra. “That’s the core of our mission at Citra: to use technology to completely dismantle those barriers. We believe innovation can deliver strong, beautiful, and sustainable homes for everyone.”

The Citra Building Technology is presented as a direct response to these challenges. Its properties include:

• Fast Construction & Scalability: A system designed for rapid deployment and high-volume production.
• Low Cost: Reduces both construction and capital costs significantly.
• High Sustainability: According to the EDGE environmental calculator, the Citra building system saves around 75% of the energy and carbon dioxide emissions for materials and construction compared to an average South African house.
• Quality & Durability: Creates high-quality, low-maintenance homes with a high degree of design freedom.

Their feature concludes by looking to the future, arguing that the construction industry is on the cusp of a revolution driven by advancements in sensor technology, AI, and robotics. The Citra system, designed for material efficiency and ease of automation, is set to thrive in this new technological era, making affordable, high-quality, and sustainable homes a reality on a global scale.