NJIT has invited Erik Fichter to present the work of Sulser Architektur, a young Swiss office advocating for a recalibrated “right-tech” approach to building. Their vision aims to reshape the construction industry by merging smart, low-tech construction methods from the past with today’s advanced digital simulation tools — all while reducing reliance on complex mechanical systems that have become increasingly dominant in recent decades.

The motivation behind this approach is to create healthier, more adaptable living environments through buildings that are understandable, readable, and modifiable by their users — in contrast to integrated technical systems with short lifespans and little user agency.

The lecture focuses on construction systems that actively contribute to comfort and performance:

- Thermal mass to store heat and cold, using phase shift to reduce the need for active heating and cooling.
- Bio-based insulation materials such as sheep wool and hay, chosen for their soft, tactile qualities and ecological benefits — contributing to spatial experience as well as performance.
- Vapour-open façade construction, allowing interior humidity to interact naturally with the external climate, improving indoor comfort.

The presentation contrasts a small private roof extension with the design of a large educational building, showing how low-tech principles can scale across different project types and contribute meaningfully to pedagogy and perception — where construction is not hidden, but made visible and teachable.