Building on

Building with and within existing structures has a very long tradition and is more important today than ever. Dealing with our existing building stock is a highly relevant aspect for climate protection and it will be one of the biggest challenges for our industry in the coming decades. The decisive factor in this context is not our buildings’ operation but the hidden grey energy over their entire life cycle.

The most sustainable building is therefore the one that is already there. As much as the remodelling and extending of buildings is a challenge for architects and all those involved in planning and construction, it also holds and demands a great deal of creativity and flexibility, inspiring new and exciting ways to build.

Urban Renaissance

What will the cities of the future look like? How do we design them so that they remain sustainable, liveable and socially mixed? In conversation with Sergei Abramov, a journalist from Lider media, Dominik Philipp formulates clear perspectives on a new urban self-image – between digital tools, timber construction, the circular economy and social responsibility.

What does it mean to think urban today? Tomorrow's cities will be socially mixed, ecologically resilient and architecturally adaptable. It's about more than functionality - it's about quality of life and sustainability.

8 takeaways from the discussion

Wood in the City

The return of timber as an urban building material has by now been recognised at almost all levels. There are many arguments in favour of its use, enabling it to re-establish itself in the urban environment – also beyond high-rise buildings. In recent years, load-bearing structures made of wood have been built in cities around the world. The positive experiences made are encouraging. And also investors are increasingly focussing on this renewable building material.