Dresden, Germany — On 27 August 2024, the future of sustainable construction took center stage during a press briefing at the CUBE on the TU Dresden campus. As the world’s first building made of carbon concrete, the CUBE exemplifies cutting-edge research and innovation within Saxony's construction industry. With a mix of on-site attendees and international participants connecting digitally, the event highlighted the vital role of building research in addressing global challenges.
Convened by the United Nations University Institute for the Integrated Management of Resources and Material Fluxes and Technische Universität Dresden’s Institute of Concrete Structures, the briefing underscored the urgent need for resource-efficient construction. UN Under-Secretary-General and UNU Rector, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, articulated the critical need for construction research: “In the face of escalating climate change and a growing scarcity of resources, raw materials, energy, and physical space, it is essential to rethink our built environments.” He further noted that in 2022, buildings accounted for 34% of the global energy demand and 37% of energy and process-related CO2 emissions. With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, urbanization will accelerate housing demand. Approximately 60% of the buildings projected for 2050 have yet to be constructed, primarily in the Global South.
Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, Director of UNU-FLORES, emphasised, “Building decisions are resource decisions.” She advocated for a comprehensive planning approach that incorporates environmental factors, citing an inspiring project: a home designed from waste materials, which showcases the collaborative potential of diverse disciplines.
UNU-FLORES is involved in the Living Art of the Building initiative, focusing on advancing climate-neutral and resource-efficient construction. This collaborative effort brings together top researchers from various fields, aiming to revolutionize the construction industry by integrating high-performance sustainable materials, cutting-edge manufacturing processes, artificial intelligence, and full digitization.
