Speakers
PANEL 1: Reshaping Resources
Prof.
Philipp Eversmann Universität Kassel (D)Architectural Additive Manufacturing: Design with Timber and Biomaterials
This presentation explores the intersection of architectural design and additive manufacturing using timber and biomaterials, an emerging paradigm with profound implications for sustainable construction. It will highlight recent advances from the EDEK research group at the University of Kassel. In particular, robotic wood manufacturing methods such as robotic placement and 3D winding, research on wood alternatives such as endless willow filaments for textile weaving and printing, and large-scale mycelium applications will be presented. The presentation will highlight real-world applications through case studies, emphasizing the central role of digital fabrication in architectural innovation, from prototypes to entire building components. In addition, the discourse highlights the dual benefits of sustainability and aesthetic enhancement in wood and biomaterial applications. These materials harmoniously align with contemporary environmental goals while enhancing architectural designs. Finally, the presentation provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of architecture, where additive manufacturing and biomaterials are poised to redefine sustainable, aesthetically compelling, and utilitarian architectural spaces.
Philipp Eversmann is a registered architect in Munich and a professor at the University of Kassel, Germany, where he directs the Department of Experimental and Digital Design and Construction (EDEK). His research group focuses on digital design and construction methods using sustainable materials and robotic additive manufacturing processes, such as renewable and bio-based building materials, ranging from solid wood elements and continuous wood filaments to waste particles and living materials. From 2014 to 2016, he was Head of Education at the National Center of Competence in Research NCCR Digital Fabrication at ETH Zurich, where he created a new master‘s program focusing on robotic technologies in architecture. As a visiting professor, he taught architecture research courses at EPF Lausanne from 2011 to 2014, at the Ecole Spéciale d‘Architecture in Paris from 2011 to 2014, and at the TU Munich from 2012 to 2014.
Aldo Sollazzo,
IAAC Barcelona (E)Encoding Material Ecologies into Large Scale Additive Manufacturing Components.
Aldo‘s presentation will focus on methodologies centered around the adhesion of materials for 3D printing on a large scale, and their practical application in projects that have enabled the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly design solutions. At LAMÁQUINA, sustainable industrial development translates into the ability to program these materials to exhibit more eco-friendly behavior thanks to PURE.TECH technology.
Presentation Index
Pure.Tech: Material Ecologies.
LaMáquina: Additive Manufacturing.
Noumena: Urban Analytics.
Aldo Sollazzo, an accomplished Italian entrepreneur and technologist, has established himself as a key figure in the fields of robotics, computer vision, and computational design. With a career marked by dedication and innovation, Sollazzo‘s contributions have had a meaningful impact on these dynamic industries. Not content to remain solely within the corporate sphere, Sollazzo dedicates himself to education as well. His role as the Director of the Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalunya in Barcelona highlights his commitment to nurturing future talent. Through this role, he imparts his knowledge and passion to the next generation of innovators. Aldo Sollazzo‘s expertise has also been sought after in various speaking engagements. He has graced the stages of prestigious events including the European Conference on Computer Vision, Barcelona Urban Tech, Future City Summit, The Venice Biennale, and TEDx Barcelona. As a guest speaker, he shares his insights and experiences, inspiring audiences to explore the intersections of technology and creativity.
PD Dr.
Rebekka Volk
Institute of Technology (D)Life cycle assessment of a flax-fibre column
In the context of global warming, the construction sector has been identified as the primary contributor to global final energy use (36 %) and energy-related CO2 emissions (39 %). Consequently, it is imperative to focus on quantifying and reducing the environmental impacts in the building and construction sector e.g. via integrating renewable building materials. Flax-fibres as fast-growing materials seem promising for this. In the project ReGrow, we assessed the production and construction of a mostly flax-fibre and resin-based column with respect to its environmental performance. By employing the SimaPro software and leveraging the ecoinvent database, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed and results are compared to other natural fibres such as kenaf, jute and cotton as well as conventional colums. The findings reveal that incineration of the column results in a lower environmental impact compared to landfill disposal. Moreover, it is observed that reducing the mass of steel components is a key factor in enhancing the column‘s environmental performance.
Rebekka Volk studied industrial engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2005-2011). Then, she worked as a research associate at the Institute for Industrial Production at KIT and the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) at University of Adelaide (2011-2016). In 2016, she successfully finished her Dr.-Ing. (PhD) with distinction (summa cum laude).
Since 2016, she heads the research group „Project and Resource Management in the Built Environment“ at the Institute for Industrial Production (IIP) and the French-German Institute for Environmental Research (DFIU). In 2022, she completed her habilitation and since 2023, she is a certified “KIT-Nachwuchsgruppenleiterin” (junior head of research group) with currently 7 fulltime academic researchers and 2-3 part-time student researchers.
Panel 2: Circular Transformation
Prof. Dr.
Catherine De Wolf
ETH Zürich (CH)In this presentation, Catherine De Wolf delves into the transformative potential of circular construction and regenerative design in contemporary architecture and building practices. The importance of viewing materials not as waste, but as resources for future cycles is emphasized. By leveraging technological innovations, architects, engineers, and builders can shift from linear consumption patterns to circular methodologies that prioritize reuse and regeneration. Case studies showcase innovative technologies that not only minimize environmental impact but also regenerates urban and natural environments. This discourse calls for a collective shift in the construction industry.
As Assistant Professor of Circular Engineering for Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Prof. Dr. Catherine De Wolf conducts research on digital innovation towards a circular built environment. She has a dual background in civil engineering and architecture from Belgium, obtained her PhD in building technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and worked for the University of Cambridge, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), and University of Technology Delft (TU Delft). She collaborates closely with governmental institutions (e.g., European Commission’s Joint Research Centre) and pioneering industry partners (e.g., Arup, Elioth, etc.) on the reuse of building materials in real-world projects
Assoc. Prof.
Martin Tamke
Royal Danish Academy (DK)No Waste –Circular Design with Biomaterials
The transformation of our linear into fully circular material streams is high on the agenda as well as the introduction of more bio-based materials into the building industry. The nature of bio-materials – their temporality, heterogeneity and ultimate decay makes them however difficult to integrate into our industrial paradigms. With biomaterials we accept a constant downgrading and final incineration of all matter during and after any use cycle – resulting in the release of the full load of Green House gases. Recent research at CITA, the Copenhagen based Centre for Information Technology and Architecture, questions these logics and proposes alternative routes for ressource streams, based on knowledge of material, its terroir and processing as well as digital infrastructures, employing deep sensing, learning and additive manufacturing across scales.
RawLam3 / CITA 2022 © Anders IngvartsenMartin Tamke is Associate Professor at the Centre for Information Technology and Architecture (CITA) in Copenhagen. He is pursuing a design led research in the interface and implications of computational design and its materialization. He joined the newly founded research centre CITA in 2006 and shaped its design based research practice, with a strong interdisciplinary focus in projects, such as “DuraARK” or the international Marie Curie ITN network Innochain. His latest research focuses on computational strategies and technologies for the transformation of the building industry towards sustainable and circular practices based on bio-materials. In 2019 Martin was appointed General reporter for the scientific track of the UIA2023 Copenhagen World Congress of Architects and in 2022 Guest professor at the University Stuttgart at the Cluster of Excellence: IntCDC Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture. Currently he is Guestprofessor at Polytechnical University of Milano and involved in the Danish funded research project Predicting Response, the EU projects Exskallerate, the ERC project „ Eco-Metabolistic Architecture“ and several industrial collaborations.
Erik Zanetti,
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (D)Hybrid Willow-earth Building Elements
Utilising bio-based and earth-based materials presents an opportunity to establish sustainable and circular material cycles within the construction industry.
„Hybrid Willow-earth Building Elements“ presents the latest findings from ongoing research conducted at the Professur Digital Design and Fabrication at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. This research leverages digital fabrication and computational design to develop a construction system that combines willow and earth. Drawing inspiration from the vernacular wattle and daub, the system offers an alternative resource stream in which willow, a rapidly renewable bio-based material, can be composted at the end of its life cycle, while earth remains infinitely recyclable without loss of value. The utilisation of digital design and fabrication is essential in supporting the reintegration of such materials, enabling customised design and fabrication processes that can effectively address the inherent variability of natural materials.
ReGrow Willow ©KIT_Wootton.dos.ddf Erik Zanetti is a research assistant at the Professorship for Digital Design and Fabrication (DDF) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, where he conducts research into circular construction, leveraging computational design and digital fabrication methodologies. His main interest involves exploring digital tools to unlock innovative material applications and construction strategies. He holds a Master of Science degree with a specialization in computational design from the Delft University of Technology. Prior to his current role, he worked as a computational designer and digital fabrication specialist.
Panel 3: Accelerating innovation
Dr.
Jelle Feringa
Terrestrial (NL)In the Anthropocene era, we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place: the towering ecological footprint of our built environment digs deep, risking our ecological balance and our foundational ability to provide housing at scale. Traditional cement-based construction adds layers of sediment to this problem, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, beneath the surface, a transformative approach is emerging: 3D printing of earthen structures using robotics. Terrestrial‘s ground-breaking initiatives are not merely scratching the surface but plowing ahead into new terrain. Their noise walls for ProRail, for instance, are set to offset 48 kilotonnes of CO2 by 2030, laying the groundwork for sustainable alternatives. By unearthing the potential of robotic 3D printing, we reveal a bedrock of advantages, from unparalleled efficiency and safety to design customization, ensuring that our architectural foundations are as firm as they are green. By seamlessly blending age-old earthen materials with cutting-edge robotics, we‘re cultivating a path that roots us firmly against looming existential challenges, sowing seeds for a sustainable, health-focused, and cost-effective architectural future.
Dr. Jelle Feringa is an architecture and robotics specialist. While developing his PhD thesis at TU Delft, Jelle established a full robotics lab in the docks of Rotterdam. Here he developed the technical underpinnings for Odico formwork robotics, the first publicly traded architectural robotics company which he co-founded in 2012. As of 2017, was responsible for the development and production of tailor-made building products at a mass scale, as CTO of Aectual. In the summer of 2021 Jelle founded a new initiative, Terrestrial, focussed on high volume 3d printed large earthen structures. Technologies that Jelle developed are applied in high-profile construction projects, including the Opus in Dubai (Zaha Hadid Architects) and the Fjordenhus in Velje, Denmark (Studio Olafur Eliasson).
Jelle has lectured internationally at the Bartlett, Architectural Association, Paris-Malaquias, IAAC, ETH Zürich, TU Delft and Aarhus School of Architecture. He is a founding partner of EZCT Architecture & Design Research. The practice‘s work is widely exhibited, including Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Archilab, Orléans, Barbican Gallery, Design Miami/Basel. Their projects are part of the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou and the FRAC Centre Orléans.
Christof Erban,
SUNOVATION GmbH (D)BIPV in the change of time
Since 1979, when Thomas Herzog began to consider photovoltaics as an integral part of building design with the completion of the Richter House in Munich in 1982, photovoltaics (PV) has faced three main arguments as to why PV could not be used in the building envelope:
• PV is not flexible enough to be used as a design element in buildings.
• PV is too aesthetically dominant to be used in facades
• PV is too expensive compared to other cladding materials
Today - 50 years later - none of the arguments hold true, although they seem to remain in the minds and memories of many stakeholders. This presentation will prove (by showing existing buildings) that virtually any cladding design is possible, either contrasting to or blending in with adjacent building materials. That PV systems have an ecologically fast ROI and, more importantly, a reasonable price.
ReGrow Willow ©KIT_Engel.dos.ddf SUNOVATION is a leading manufacturer of solar glass modules for Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Well-known, internationally operating architectural offices and construction companies rely on SUNOVATION’s expertise to implement their individual ideas for BIPV facades and roofings. In recent years, the world’s largest BIPV projects have been realised with SUNOVATION eFORM glass modules, which are based on a unique silicon filling process (SCET). They are available as transparent, black and colored „eFORM unichrome“ solar glass elements, which, in addition to their excellent aesthetics, are characterized particularly by an above-average solar yield.
Dr.
Julian Fial,
FibR GmbH (D)Highly efficient load-bearing structures for a wide range of building applications can be realised using the robotic filament winding process in combination with digital development tools. Such products are produced by FibR in a wide range of materials, from renewable flax fibre structures to high-performing carbon fibre components and non-flammable basalt structures. At the same time, this textile manufacturing process allows completely new approaches in the design and construction of components for classic applications in the building industry. This presentation shows current innovations and applications made by FibR for highly resource-efficient building components of today and tomorrow.
ReGrow Timber Canopy ©KIT_Wootton.dos.ddf Julian Fial graduated in aerospace engineering from the University of Stuttgart and ISAE Toulouse in 2014 and worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart from 2014 to 2021. He received his PhD with a thesis on sensor-based automated preforming processes of fibre composite structures there in 2022 .The broad field of expertise at the Institute of Aircraft Design enabled Julian Fial to acquire comprehensive competences in questions of sustainable fibre composite technology and in the various aspects of structural lightweight design.
Since 2020, Julian Fial has headed the Production and Development department at FibR. In this context, he is involved in many different aspects of robotic filament winding for a wide range of highly innovative applications in the construction sector.