--- title: "Building & Living: Worth knowing from the industry" url: "https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/" date: 2025-01-29 modified: 2025-03-18 lastUpdated: 2025-03-18 --- # Building & Living: Worth knowing from the industry 1. [Home](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/) 2. [Worth knowing](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/iNdkoISq1IFqVcBfAQNBWhOrpgsOSUthnaWFrVXiXBE/q:85/c:1382.1322462562:853.16805324459:fp:0.498998998999:0.46672212978369/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtXzgtR2VydWVzdF9iYzgzZTUwNWNm:t/cb:5a614657a79bdb64efdba2689aa488966cf6fd66/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDFfR3JhZmlrZW5fU3RvY2svOC1HZXJ1ZXN0LnBuZw) Measures to bring vacant properties back into use to increase the housing availability: examples from towns and districts In Germany, around 1.9 million apartments were vacant according to the 2022 census – equivalent to 4.3 per cent of the housing stock., with half of them vacant for more than one year1. While in many major cities such as Munich, Hamburg or Berlin only about 2 to 3 per cent of apartments are unused, significantly higher vacancy rates are found in eastern German regions and in some structurally weak rural districts. Many large and medium-sized cities are already implementing instruments to systematically record vacancies and reactivate unused properties. This represents a key lever for creating housing and thus making an important contribution to more affordable housing. 1 [Federal Statistical Office](https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/Zensus2022-Pressemitteilungen/PM_zenus2022_46.html?templateQueryString=zensus+2011&utm_source=chatgpt.com) [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/effective-measures-to-bring-vacant-properties-back-into-use/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/2-5T9Zr3MMg0v5oHZwklrzs1qrAISI_BUd8NvPB4wnc/q:85/c:1383.7149:854.145:fp:0.4995:0.48252911813644/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX1VtYXJtZW5kZXMtSGF1c19hMGRkODgzM2Vk:t/cb:9b68e9463a63ec3cb5ad3b1f8813cdd87f7ea97b/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDJfSWNvbnMvSWNvbnNfMTZfOS9taXRfd2Vpc3NlbV9IaW50ZXJncnVuZC9kdW5rZWxibGF1L1VtYXJtZW5kZXMtSGF1cy5wbmc) *Capriccio* on Bavarian Television: How Building Type E makes construction simpler In its report “Building More Simply! With ‘Building Type E’”, the cultural TV magazine *Capriccio* from Bavarian Broadcasting illustrates how the simplified construction concept works: how to build faster, in a more climate‑friendly way and at lower cost. Using the examples of a house without a conventional heating system and a former spinning mill that is to be converted into housing, the programme presents pragmatic solutions that rely on less technology and fewer norms to make construction more affordable. Experts also discuss current challenges and outline the benefits of this new approach. [Watch “Building More Simply! With ‘Building Type E’” *(in German)*](https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/capriccio/einfacher-bauen-mit-gebaeudetyp-e/br/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL2Jyb2FkY2FzdC9GMjAyNFdPMDA2MzQyQTAvc2VjdGlvbi80MjEwNDBiOC0xOWM1LTRhZTQtOWU2Zi1lYzYzYjE3MTE0YjQ) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/WrjhFGPF2zGzCS_-twK7_5HzgvbWjlnqoZrNIkBQ7o8/q:85/c:1746.4923623446:1078.081705151:fp:0.4995:0.49911190053286/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX1NjcmVlbnNob3RfXzhfX2IxZGVhNGYxOTQ:t/cb:5592f15c0a50cd5f67b1f6374b4e896ac6696d57/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9EaWFsb2dpay9TY3JlZW5zaG90X184Xy5wbmc) 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. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/building-living-at-the-federal-congress-on-national-urban-development-policy-1-1/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/6aLNe9JvmXwOfunzaBachVSzCPpk4c_qcPy3qydY1gc/q:85/c:1746.4923623446:1078.081705151:fp:0.4995:0.49911190053286/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX1NjcmVlbnNob3RfXzEwX183OGVmZThmMGMy:t/cb:7f2368ea086acfb1a798add2f8269407e5c4d77a/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9EaWFsb2dpay9TY3JlZW5zaG90X18xMF8ucG5n) Citizens’ councils in a scientific context A central component of the *Bauen & Wohnen* project was the implementation of citizens’ councils to examine the social acceptance of proposals developed by the working groups for more affordable housing. These councils took place between April and June in the metropolitan regions of Berlin and the Ruhr area. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/building-living-at-the-federal-congress-on-national-urban-development-policy-1/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/Az_33XUj7GBlIfYHsWfN63fBQvRi7ZHIdeNuMYLZh7w/q:85/c:4211.2270575:2599.522875:fp:0.4995:0.50071942446043/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX1BsZW51bV9Sb3N0b2NrXzg0OTdhZDQ2NDU:t/cb:359aa22cbf48822e3cd3d4d362a198529a28d207/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9Sb3N0b2NrL1BsZW51bV9Sb3N0b2NrLkpQRw) © acatech / Seda Akinci 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. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/review-nksp-rostock/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/-6paZrRjB8ehtRkQ8ZHqqB4xRa4NBnIPscoaVzexoBw/q:85/c:1383.7149:854.145:fp:0.4995:0.53078202995008/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtXzgtR2VydWVzdF9lN2VjYWMzMDBl:t/cb:5a614657a79bdb64efdba2689aa488966cf6fd66/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDFfR3JhZmlrZW5fU3RvY2svOC1HZXJ1ZXN0LnBuZw) Making experiential knowledge from innovative practical projects accessible to others *Real-world laboratories make it possible to test new technologies, business models, or regulatory approaches under real-world conditions. With the Real-World Laboratories Innovation Portal, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) now offers a central platform for consultation, information, networking, and knowledge transfer on the topic of real-world laboratories and regulatory sandboxes. The goal: “to facilitate the practical implementation of living labs as well as knowledge transfer and regulatory learning.”* [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/living-lab-innovation-portal/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/Ly0sL8TGhl_96NHCVy2vZvipSeZVR4qFsXXrZt6ssio/q:85/c:1383.7149:854.145:fp:0.4995:0.53078202995008/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtXzEwLVBhcmtfMDExODAzN2UzZA:t/cb:fb51930253684cd7ed2ee5fd96726e6ea90ce373/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDFfR3JhZmlrZW5fU3RvY2svMTAtUGFyay5wbmc) “We must be a creative lab to solve one of the greatest problems facing our country.” Housing is not a luxury, but a social fundamental right that must not be determined by the market alone – this is one of the central messages in the kick-off speech of the new Federal Minister for Housing, Verena Hubertz. For her, housing construction is not only an economic stimulus, but a societal obligation: "I want housing to be a functioning market where it's not just the return on investment that counts. And as Minister for Housing, I want to ensure that housing remains affordable for everyone – from apprentices to pensioners." [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/kick-off-speech-by-federal-minister-of-housing-urban-development-and-building-minister-hubertz/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/ZAFxAy73el_15gVeoky2oZhyYRGfWG6WsR1DmktrF5g/q:85/c:1384.5959400998:854.68885191348:fp:0.4995:0.53078202995008/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtXzYtQmF1cGxhbl83YTdiM2NiYzAz:t/cb:a1a3b18015330c3924aefb02b29703f9c3dc02db/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDFfR3JhZmlrZW5fU3RvY2svNi1CYXVwbGFuLnBuZw) Standardisation in the construction industry: opportunities, challenges, and the current need for action A working group meeting at the acatech office in March was not only special because members of WG 1 and WG 3 (“Building materials, construction and energy” and “Transformation and implementation strategies”) met together for the first time. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Winter, co-lead of WG 1, opened the meeting with a brief introduction: in his role as Chairman of the DIN Standards Committee for Construction and member of the DIN Special Presidential Committee for Buildings (SPB), he gave an overview of the role of standardisation in construction and the current committee work within the context of DIN e. V. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/standardisation-in-the-construction-industry/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/ezzq7OuLjkA_W09F1mMrKQxiEnxwsm7sYflFdWzxL9I/q:85/c:3020.2062043796:1864.3248175182:fp:0.474:0.38503649635037/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX1dpbGxrb21tZW5fNF9iMTkzMDEyY2Y3:t/cb:70f9a73f709365c2301d05ef449990a8fecd3107/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9XaWxsa29tbWVuXzQuanBlZw) 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. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/stakeholder-dvisory-board-meeting-with-a-special-character/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/Ap6GQA6zNLr6D7nVrqeYRIBSMbc7yRJQaUhFZZlKHGI/q:85/c:1384.5959400998:854.68885191348:fp:0.4995:0.53078202995008/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtXzctQmF1cGxhbi0yXzY1M2RkYWNlZWQ:t/cb:d98b95e7b86a703609682559d1237a9ab7d4d603/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDFfR3JhZmlrZW5fU3RvY2svNy1CYXVwbGFuLTIucG5n) Spring Report 2025 "Currently, residential construction in Germany is among the most expensive in international comparison," emphasizes the " Immobilienweisen Expert Panel” in its Spring Real Estate Industry Report 2025. Panel member Ralph Henger from the German Economic Institute (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft, IW) highlights in the chapter "Residential Real Estate" various levers that could be adjusted to make building—and thus housing—more affordable again. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/zia-spring-real-estate-industry-report-2025/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/aD3EBL8Ne_8P3I7vfm2hM8azhylwVHOj-F4itNB6ChE/q:85/c:834:514.81481481481:fp:0.5:0.5/rt:force/w:592/h:365/fn:Y3NtX0VuZXJnaWV3ZW5kZV9HZWJhZXVkZWJlcmVpY2hfQmlsZC1Ib21lcGFnZV83ZTg2M2MyYmFh:t/cb:c6025fb83f647578579460db0f4cec30978bcc44/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9FU1lTX0ltcHVscy9FbmVyZ2lld2VuZGVfR2ViYWV1ZGViZXJlaWNoX0JpbGQtSG9tZXBhZ2UucG5n "How can the energy transition in the building sector succeed?") © ESYS/Figures How Can the Energy Transition in Building Secor Succeed? "Improving the diversification of housing options and promoting space-saving living" – this key action area is highlighted by a working group of the academy initiative “Energy Systems of the Future” (ESYS) in its impulse “How Can the Energy Transition in the Building Sector Succeed? Key Areas for a Socially Viable Transformation”. The working group outlines the crucial role that upgrading existing building structures plays in achieving climate targets in the building sector. [Read more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/esys-impulse-how-can-the-energy-transition-in-the-building-sector-succeed/) ![](https://shimazaki-kanta.toujou.website/_assets/processed/-EPuKXGjBrsHi5ZZj-rhimzMvud8oVQ07jgsmjD_l5M/q:85/c:2997:1685.8125:fp:0.4995:0.44977511244378/rt:force/w:593/h:334/fn:Y3NtX1NhcmFoX0R1bmdzXzZkYTFjYjRjYzY:t/cb:5b078e87d4da28b4a8c299cb5a3392c419dbc614/bG9jYWw6L2ZpbGVhZG1pbi9CaWxkZXIvMDRfV2lzc2Vuc3dlcnRlcy9BcnRpa2VsX1NhcmFoX0R1bmdzL1NhcmFoX0R1bmdzLmpwZw "Sarah Dungs") © Julius Gnoth 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 Building in existing structures: seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges "Our vision is to shift the real estate industry from new builds to existing buildings. We firmly believe that building in existing structures will become the new industry standard," says 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. [Read the article](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/technical-articlebuilding-in-existing-structures/) 3 questions for... -------------------- - [Interview with #### Prof. Dr. Drs. h. c. Ortwin Renn](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/prof-dr-drs-h-c-ortwin-renn/) - [Interview with #### Prof. Dr.-Ing. Agnes Förster](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/prof-dr-ing-agnes-foerster/) - [Interview with #### Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Wörner](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/prof-dr-ing-jan-woerner/) - [Interview with #### Dr.-Ing. Daniela Kiefer](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/dr-ing-daniela-kiefer/) - [Interview with #### Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Winter](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/prof-dr-ing-stefan-winter/) Facts and figures ------------------- - [27.06.2025 #### Loft living space potential](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/loft-living-space-potential/) - [20.05.2025 #### Housing Potential in Existing Buildings](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/housing-potential-in-existing-buildings/) - [09.05.2025 #### Standardisation in the construction industry](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/standardisation-in-the-construction-industry/) - [31.3.2025 #### ZIA Spring Real Estate Industry Report 2025](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/zia-spring-real-estate-industry-report-2025/) - [18.03.2025 #### ESYS Impulse: How can the energy transition in the building sector succeed?](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/esys-impulse-how-can-the-energy-transition-in-the-building-sector-succeed/) - [ 17.02.2025 #### How do Germans want to live](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/worth-knowing/how-do-germans-want-to-live/) ### Our working groups ![](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/fileadmin/Bilder/02_Icons/gelb/AG_1_icon.svg) #### WG 1 Building materials, construction and energy WG 1 is looking at technical innovations with a focus on individual buildings, existing obstacles and possible cost reductions. [Learn more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/project/working-group-1-building-materials-construction-and-energy/ "Arbeitsgruppe 1") ![](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/fileadmin/Bilder/02_Icons/gelb/AG_2_icon.svg) #### WG 2 Urban and neighbourhood development WG 2 deals with issues relating to the requirements and potential of integrated neighbourhood development. [Learn more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/project/working-group-2-urban-and-neighbourhood-development/ "Arbeitsgruppe 2") ![](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/fileadmin/Bilder/02_Icons/gelb/AG_3_icon.svg) #### WG 3 Transformation and implementation strategies In collaboration with the other two WGs, WG 3 is working on the possible transfer of solutions into practice. [Learn more](https://www.plattform-bauen-und-wohnen.de/en/project/working-group-3-transformation-and-implementation-strategies/ "Arbeitsgruppe 3")