European cities are estimated to be 90% complete. Unlike in rapidly growing countries, strategies and tools for sustainable transformation and adaptation to changing demands dominate urban development in Central Europe. This requires novel and specific approaches in urban planning, infrastructure planning, and architecture.
It's the current major societal challenges such as climate change, globalization, demographic shifts, and resource depletion that prompt a reevaluation of existing structures. Whether it's continuing to build, remodeling, or adopting "reduce, reuse, recycle" practices, what's required is economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable urban development for all generations.
The goal is to maintain the developmental potential of cities, preserve the architectural heritage, and simultaneously create, maintain, or enhance the quality of life in cities (now and in the future) through various measures. Special attention is given to the feedback between actors and their actions in urban spaces. From researching model districts, employing new methods and materials in construction, or restructuring participation processes, paradigms for sustainable building and living can emerge.
A significant opportunity to reduce emissions lies in the consistent digitalization of the construction sector along all process chains—from planning and execution to the operation of buildings. Research focuses on complex issues related to materials, process engineering, control, modeling, design, and construction for additive manufacturing, as well as the digital construction site. In addition, sustainable handling of existing buildings, construction within existing structures, and the use of sustainable materials are explored.
