The key themes at BAU 2013 - Sustainability is shaping the building industry
Foto: The key themes at BAU 2013 - Sustainability is shaping the building industry
What themes will be defining the design and construction of buildings in the coming years and decades? BAU has identified four of them. These key themes will set the tone for BAU 2013. Many exhibitors will be orienting their presentations at the fair to these themes and showcasing appropriate solutions. In the forums at the trade fair architects, construction engineers and project developers will be explaining and discussing the key themes from a variety of aspects. And in the special shows at BAU, the themes will be illustrated with examples of products and projects.
Sustainability
Sustainability is shaping the building industry, to an even greater extent than in other sectors of society. It is the overarching theme that dominates all the key themes at BAU. Just where the debate has reached on this complex issue, will be highlighted at BAU 2013.
The theme of sustainability is closely associated with BAU, and the same is true of the institutions that are involved with and promote sustainability: the Federal Ministry for Transport, Construction and Urban Development (BMVBS), the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance and ift Rosenheim. These institutions, all of which work in close partnership with BAU, highlighted various aspects of sustainable planning and construction in conferences, special shows and forums at BAU 2011 and will do so again in 2013, with even greater intensity.
A great deal has been achieved in the field of sustainability in recent years. There is widespread agreement that the concept encompasses the entire life cycle of buildings (from planning and use through to demolition) and covers not only ecological but also economic and sociocultural aspects. Appropriate assessment systems have been developed worldwide for the certification of sustainable buildings.
But sustainability testing extends to building components as well as entire buildings. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) will in future provide information on the functional and ecological quality of building components and materials.
What of the future? One thing is certain: the sustainability of buildings will continue to have a determining influence on research and development in the building industry. The population may also start to be involved in decisions on major building projects (Stuttgart 21!). Megatrends such as demographic change, climate change, the energy turnaround (see Energy 2.0) and urbanization will be debated from the perspective of sustainability. The question will therefore be how not only individual buildings but also entire urban districts and cities can be planned and built sustainably. In Europe, there will be a focus on the sustainable redevelopment and modernization of the building stock. That will provide a wealth of material for BAU 2013…
Energy 2.0
The term ‘Energy 2.0’ was coined in imitation of the internet term Web 2.0. BAU understands it to refer generally to the future of energy supplies to buildings and the associated technological innovations, which will be on show at BAU 2013.
‘Energy 2.0’ concerns particularly the rapidly growing importance of renewable energies (against the background of the ‘energy turnaround’ and ‘energy transition’) and the combination of different energy sources, both fossil and renewable. ‘Energy 2.0’ naturally also covers the themes of energy conservation and energy efficiency.
In addition to these technological components, the term has a social dimension, as does Web 2.0. This concerns the interaction between all those who engage with and promote the theme of ‘Energy 2.0’, conduct lobbying activities and bring to bear their sometimes differing interests – in areas such as industry, politics, commodities and real estate – without forgetting the users of the buildings, who are increasingly becoming active themselves, modernizing their buildings and optimizing their energy use, either to save money or to protect the environment.
What is the position with regard to energy management in new buildings? What proportion of them will use renewable energies in the future, and how will these be incorporated in the building or its shell and integrated intelligently with the building technology? And what new solutions will there be for energy-saving measures in buildings? BAU 2013 will answer these questions. As a cross-industry material and technology trade fair that looks at buildings (roof, wall, windows, façade) and their technical equipment from both the inside and outside, it is ideally placed to do so.
But BAU will also address the social and societal challenges associated with the theme of ‘Energy 2.0’. How will the city of the future look? Will it transform itself from an energy consumer to an energy producer, and if so what will that mean? What impact will the themes of energy and energy efficiency have on our built environment? What is the current and future role of certification systems and environmental product declarations for building products and materials?
These questions will be discussed and illustrated at BAU 2013 in forums, special shows and conferences. Prominent experts from all over the world will state their position and explain their views. BAU is the perfect platform, since it brings together everyone involved in the planning, construction and operation of buildings. It is for them to determine how Energy 2.0 develops in the future.
Urban development in the 21st century
Already over half of us live in an urban environment. In 2050, 75 percent of the world population, which will by that time have reached about 9.3 billion, will live in towns. How this development is to be assessed and what it means for the future of the town will be a key theme at BAU 2013 under the heading of "Urban development in the 21st century".
In Germany the future has already begun. Here, three-quarters of the population live in urban structures. In particular from an energy point of view, typical dense urban settlement has its advantages. We know that 40 percent of delivered energy is consumed in buildings. Of this, 75 percent is used for space heating alone, the rest is accounted for by lighting, cooling technology and the power consumed by our modern means of communication. A further ten percent of energy consumed in Germany is used in traveling between workplace and home, going shopping and engaging in social and cultural life. In developed countries, for example throughout Europe, these values are similar.
As a result, an "integrated city" in which the homes have optimized energy consumption, offers an immense potential for energy saving. This does not mean transforming each individual house. Energy-efficient improvements are not intended to destroy local identity or ruin listed buildings. We need to conserve structures, and, using intelligent networking, generate carbon-neutral districts with energy-generating new buildings which will then form a carbon-optimized city as a whole.
Another advantage of city life is that it is only in urban structures that it is possible to provide for older people in a way that means they can live for a long time in their own home environment. Life for old people is not just a matter of health care and visits to the doctor. It means taking part in cultural and social activities too. This can only be provided in towns and cities, as many social and other services and their associated infrastructure, for example, local public transport, will only continue to be sustainable in urban districts long term.
Energy supply and demographics will require strategies for the future. Today and tomorrow, this will continue to be a challenge that needs effective partnerships in planning, politics, industry and building.
Building for Life
Most people would prefer to grow old in their own home. Buildings are increasingly being designed to ensure that this is possible. What "Building for Life" looks like in detail and what it has to take into account will be on show at BAU 2013.
In 2011 BAU was already championing this cause and, in cooperation with the Gesellschaft für Gerentotechnik® (GGT) – a gerontotechnology company –, translating its concepts into a special display. This time the special show on "Building for Life" will take into account in particular the concept of comfort. In a dedicated zone in Hall A4, multifunctional hotel accommodation will be replicated and fitted out with products designed to appeal to young and old alike. To accompany this, there will be special tours around BAU to visit the booths of exhibitors offering products and services in this area. The tours will also focus on the issue of how buildings can be designed and equipped to make them attractive and comfortable for all generations and can be used by anyone, regardless of age or physical disability.
Because people are living ever longer and want to remain independent for as long as possible, "Building for Life" is an issue that is not going to go away. A questionnaire surveying 1100 people aged over 50 presented by pollsters TNS Emnid at BAU 2011 discovered that two-thirds of respondents wanted to live in their own homes at age 70 without outside help. Half of those surveyed wanted their home to be converted to make them suitable to live in in later life. Architects and designers are among those who have long been contemplating the issue. What subjects will dominate construction and the building industry in the coming five years was the question Heinze market researchers asked of 206 architects and planners. 63 percent responded "Barrier-free design". And that is a strong reason for BAU 2013 placing Building for Life right at the top of its agenda.
About BAU 2013
BAU 2013, the World's Leading Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials, Systems, takes place from January 14 to 19, 2013 at Messe München exhibition center. Once again the event is expected to attract around 2,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and approximately 240,000 visitors from all over the world. On show at BAU on 180,000 square meters of exhibition space will be architectural solutions, materials and systems for commercial and residential construction and for interior fit-out, for both new-build and renovation and modernization purposes. Every two years this event brings together market leaders from the sector to participate in a unique international display of competence spanning all the construction trades. BAU is also the world´s largest trade fair for architects and construction engineers, attracting around 50,000 design professionals. The exhibits at the fair are organized according to building material and also product and theme areas. Key topics for the future of the industry, such as sustainability and building for life, play an important role in all sections of the exhibition. The many attractive events in the supporting program, including high-caliber forums with experts from all over the world, round off this industry showcase.
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