BAU, the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems, will make resource efficiency the key theme for its 2025 edition, to be held in Munich from 13 to 17 January 2025. One of the great challenges facing contemporary society is, in fact, the quest for a more conscious use of resources, which is essential for safeguarding the quality of life of current and future generations. The sustainable use of available resources requires a rethink in all sectors, including, above all, architecture and construction, starting with construction methods, in which local renewable raw materials with a reduced ecological impact should be used. Raw materials such as clay or lime offer significant ecological and economic advantages, as they are locally available and have less impact on supply chains and transport routes.
Cement and steel, which account for a significant part of global carbon emissions, continue to be required for the construction of buildings and infrastructure due to their material properties. Current developments show that the carbon footprint can be improved by replacing, for example, bricks. Concrete research also shows potential for construction through material reduction and targeted control of material properties, which enable new forms of architectural expression while minimising environmental impact. Hybrid construction methods, which utilise the positive effects of individual materials and elements in combination, are a further lever for greater resource conservation. The result is composites with optimised properties, such as higher strength and load-bearing capacity at lower weight, and thus enabling the construction of larger and more complex buildings.
BAU 2025, through reflection and debate on these issues, intends to chart a course towards the future of construction through innovation and the development of the latest techniques, materials and applications that can be used in practice by all stakeholders, planners, investors, industry and construction representatives.
