Building & Living:
Platform for
Networking, Synthesis
and Transfer

The goal

The aim of the Building & Living platform is to identify the obstacles to existing innovations for more affordable housing and to provide key impulses for the change of the construction sector. In addition to affordability, the criteria of sustainability and quality (essential living comfort) are also considered.

The project is focusing on existing building structures in urban areas. Being discussed are solution options and impulses for reusing, adding storeys, building extensions and other types of redensification.

More about the project

Two Group Delphi Processes to Integrate Additional Expertise

A central component of the Building & Living project was the implementation of Group Delphi processes — designed both to validate and to complement the expertise of the working groups. The methodological design, implementation, and evaluation were conducted according to scientific standards by DIALOGIK – Non-Profit Institute for Communication and Cooperation Research.

Citizens’ assemblies in a scientific context

A central component of the Bauen & Wohnen project was the implementation of citizens’ assemblies to examine the social acceptance of proposals developed by the working groups for more affordable housing. These assemblies took place between April and June in the metropolitan regions of Berlin and the Ruhr area.

Review: Existing Buildings as an Opportunity!
Building & Living at the 18th National Urban Development Policy Congress

The Building & Living platform contributed with its expert forum titled “Existing buildings as an opportunity! Social and technological innovations for more affordable and sustainable living space in the neighbourhoods.” Around 140 participants attended the session, where the current results and discussions from the working groups were presented and discussed.

Real-world lab Mapping by Bauen & Wohnen and KIT now online

How can real-world laboratories contribute to creating affordable housing in urban areas? We developed a new mapping tool with scientific support from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). An interactive map showcases real-world labs and selected innovative best practice examples in Germany.

To the mapping

Standardisation in the construction industry: opportunities, challenges, and the current need for action

Insights into the current work on builiding standardisation from Prof. Dr.-.Ing. Stefan Winter, Ordinarius of the Chair of Timber Structures and Building Construction, TU Munich and Co-lead of working group 1 “Building materials, construction and energy”.

Stakeholder advisory board meeting with special character

The fourth stakeholder advisory board meeting had a special character: As usual, the experts were first briefed by the acatech office on the current status of the project and the interim results of the working groups. Afterwards, the stakeholder advisory board members became active themselves – as participants in a Group Delphi.

Loft living space potential: 429,252 additional flats…
... could be built under and on German roofs in the future - according to a study by the Berlin-based technology company Leaftech.

Infill development through extensions of existing buildings offers clear advantages over new construction

Land use, resource consumption, CO₂ emissions, and especially building costs are significantly lower. Average costs per square meter of gross floor area:
- Roof conversion: €1,797
- Extension: €1,738
- New construction: €2,765

How Germans want to live
When it comes to the criteria for choosing a flat or house, Germans are quite willing to forgo a balcony putting it only in 6th place among the most relevant features.

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© David Ausserhofer

“People should feel comfortable in urban areas and be able to afford an adequate quality of life. This requires the removal of unnecessary regulations and a housing policy that focuses on social equality.”

Prof. Dr. Drs. h.c. Ortwin Renn
Former Scientific Director, Research Institute for Sustainability, acatech Executive Board, Scientific Project Manager “Building & Living” platform

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© Julius Gnoth

“Building in existing structures will become the new industry standard - according to Sarah Dungs, Chairwoman of the Association for Building in Existing Contexts (Verband für Bauen im Bestand e.V.) and Managing Director of the Greyfield Group. During the webinar "Building in Existing Structures: seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges," she explained where CO₂ emissions originate in the construction industry, how resources can be conserved, and why a new mindset is essential for working with existing buildings."

Sarah Dungs
Chairwoman of the Association for Building in Existing Contexts (Verband für Bauen im Bestand e.V.) and
Managing Director of the Greyfield Group

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© Ulrich Mayer

“This is a highly relevant issue: how can we create new living space not on ‘greenfield sites’ with even more sealing of land, but by using and densifying the already built environment, sealed areas and already built infrastructure?”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Winter 
Ordinarius of the Chair of Timber Structures and Building Construction, TU Munich,
Lead of working group 1 "Building materials, construction and energy“

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© Martin Braun

“We can only create a future worth living in if problems and their causes are analysed from multiple perspectives and if we take targeted measures to address current dysfunctional contexts and overcome existing obstacles. It is important to bring together knowledge from different areas: from planning, construction and operating, science and practice, experts and people in the neighbourhood.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Agnes Förster
Head of the Chair of Planning Theory and Urban Development, RWTH Aachen,
Lead of working group 2 "Urban and neighbourhood development“

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© Schöck Bauteile GmbH

"I am particularly passionate about the connection between sustainability and affordable housing. The Building & Living Platform offers the ideal opportunity to bring our expertise into the discussion and work together on solutions for the construction industry of tomorrow.“

Dr.-Ing. Daniela Kiefer
Structural Engineer for Bridges, Building Construction and Construction Products, SMP Ingenieure Im Bauwesen GmbH,
Lead of working group 1 "Building materials, construction and energy“

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