Together for the Building Revolution

All construction work produces emissions and uses up resources. In fact, the construction industry is largely responsible for the climate and resource crisis, currently accounting for almost 40 percent of global CO₂ emissions. A holistic transformation of the sector is essential to achieve a responsible and sustainable approach to planetary boundaries. In light of this, the integration of different disciplines and skills within the planning process is becoming increasingly relevant to map the complexity of the transformation processes required. Equally important is to prepare the future generation of architects for the new approaches to construction and to make the building revolution a part of programs at universities. The topic is yet to find its way into many syllabuses, but is something which students expect.

Advancing the building revolution

In summer semester 2024, 14 universities will work together to pool their knowledge in the field and communicate it in a series of lectures based on Architects for Future's "10 demands for a building revolution." Each event focuses on one of these demands, which will be examined and discussed together with representatives of Architects for Future and the respective universities. "We hope this will contribute enormously to raising interest for this important topic among students as well as its presence in teaching throughout Germany," says Elisabeth Broermann, current visiting professor for Architecture for Future at TU Berlin's Institute of Architecture (IfA) and spokesperson for Architects for Future Germany. "With this new network, we are looking to support each other's teaching, as well as capitalize on synergies in our respective areas of expertise and share our expertise as widely as possible. We want to show that there really are a lot of us out there driving the building revolution we so badly need."

Open to all interested parties

TU Berlin is co-initiator of the series together with RWTH Aachen and will host five of the events. The events taking place at other universities are offered in hybrid format. Participants unable to attend the events live in the lecture halls of the respective universities can participate via livestream in the foyer of the Institute of Architecture at TU Berlin, or else online from elsewhere. The series is primarily aimed at students, but is also open to anyone interested in this important topic. The events will be recorded and uploaded to the Architects for Future YouTube channel. Each event will start with a presentation given by two experts on topics such as circularity in construction, demand assessment and sufficiency, or social responsibility in the construction sector. Participants will then form groups to discuss the topics further. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the speakers as well as a representative from Architects for Future, who will provide insights from the movement and from the perspective of activism. Students will also have the opportunity to share ideas and network with students from other universities.

Alongside the lecture series, there will be a conference on 5 July 2024 attended by the participating universities to further explore the topic of the building revolution in teaching. In addition to Architects for Future, the events held at TU Berlin will feature the Natural Building Lab, the Center for Metropolitan Studies led by Professor Dorothee Brantz, as well as the academic chairs led by Jacob van Rijs (represented by Jan Kampshoff) and Nanni Grau.

Together for the Building Revolution lecture series

11 events starting 17.04.2024, Wednesdays 16:00-17:30
Hybrid event
All events will be streamed in the foyer of the IfA at TU Berlin. All events are scheduled to take place in German. For those events where TU Berlin is involved or hosting another university, the speakers will also be present at TU Berlin.

17.04.24: Together for the building revolution. How to architect the future.
TU Berlin & Uni Wuppertal
Prof. Elisabeth Broermann & Prof. Annette Hillebrandt

24.04.24: Rethink what we need
TU Berlin & Uni Wuppertal
Prof. Nanni Grau, Prof. Marc Günnewig & Prof. Jan Kampshoff

08.05.24: Critically question demolition
Technical University of Munich & Uni Kassel
Arno Denk, Carsten Schade, Johannes Staudt & Dr. Alexander Stumm

15.05.24: Design sustainable quality
RWTH Aachen & Uni Hannover
Prof. Florian Fischer-Almanai & Prof. Tim Rieniets

22.05.24: Speed up the energy revolution
TU Braunschweig & RWTH Aachen
Prof. Elisabeth Endres & Prof. Dr. Daniele Santucci

9.05.24: Circular and climate-positive design
Münster School of Architecture & RWTH Aachen
Prof. Dr. Ania Rosen & Prof. Dr. Linda Hildebrand

05.06.24: Promote a healthy built environment
Karlsruher Institute of Technology & Technical University of Munich (hosted by TU Berlin)
Prof. Andrea Klinge & Prof. Thomas Auer

12.06.24: Strengthen climate resilience
BTU Cottbus & HS Bremen
Prof. Dr. Susan Draeger & Prof. Michaela Hoppe

19.06.24: Preserve and create space for biodiversity
TU Berlin & TU Wien
Prof. Dr. Dorothee Brantz & Prof. Dr. Thomas E. Hauck

26.06.24: Assume social responsibility
TU Braunschweig & Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design Kiel
Prof. Dr. Tatiana Schneider & Prof. Frauke Gerstenberg

03.07.24: Integral planning
TU Berlin & RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau
Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge & Prof. Dr. Angèle Tersluisen

Participating universities:

RWTH Aachen University • University of Wuppertal • Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
FH Münster University of Applied Sciences - MSA • HSB Hochschule Bremen • KIT - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Leibniz University Hannover • Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design Kiel • TU Berlin • TU Wien
TU Braunschweig • TU Munich • University of Kassel • RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau

• Architects for Future website

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