New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking

Email user
info@hinterland-as.com

Basic information
Initiative title
Build: from high to low tech

Full initiative Title
{Empty}

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
The building industry has a significant impact on the environment and without great transformations on both design strategies and building techniques the world climate ambitions will be compromised. According to the World Green Building Council, building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world.
We believe that to address this issue there we must considered two combined paths. New technologies of digital fabrication applied to the use of natural materials.

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
National

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Portugal

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
{Empty}

Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
Compete 2020 - Portugal 2020 - União Europeia (FEDER) granted in 2021

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): HAS - Hinterland Architecture Studio, Unipessoal lda.
  Type of organisation: For-profit company
  First name of representative: Filipa
  Last name of representative: Figueira
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Portugal
  Function: Architect, Manager
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rua de Santos Pousada, 1330, 4º esquerdo
  Town: Porto
  Postal code: 4000-483
  Country: Portugal
  Direct Tel: +351 936 547 045
  E-mail: info@hinterland-as.com
  Website: https://www.buildporto.com/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/buildporto
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @buildporto
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/buildporto/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): @buildporto
- URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/build-from-high-to-low-tech/
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Social Media

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
Build: from high to low tech is an international congress focused on how the construction industry must adjust to the impact it brings on the environment. We focus on built examples of worldwide buildings where natural materials with high embodied carbon are applied and also new digital fabrication techniques used in order to maximize material usage and waste reduction. We gathered participants from around the world, from Indonesia to Paraguay, with a diverse background that are able to give us a broad vision and solutions of this. The next edition will evolve to a meeting point between architects and material developers to promote workshops complementary to the public talks.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
Sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Biogenic Materials

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Embodied Carbon

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Digital Fabrication

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Reuse

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The key objectives of our initiative are to publicize and promote the use of Biogenic Materials and Digital Fabrication in the construction industry. Several studies indicate that the built environment is responsible for something between 35% to 45% of the global Co2 emissions. At the current pace if the industry doesn't shift it's focus from oil based materials to biogenic materials it will be impossible to meet the world environmental goals. We are aware that some materials will be unavoidable and that's why it is also indispensable to apply new technologies like the Digital Fabrication in order to optimize material usage and to reduce waste. Our initiative had the specific Portuguese context in mind where the construction industry continues to show high resistance to changes in the established processes regarding construction techniques and new material usages. This is why we decided to invite international renowned specialists that could share their personal experience working with this type of materials and techniques, showing the local community that it is possible to build different and better.
For the next edition the event will move forward in order to gather material producers and promote workshops where people can actually try and experiment with the materials.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Regarding aesthetics and quality of experience there are two different angles.
The first is the technical advantages of the biogenic materials, besides the embodied carbon most of them are extremely effective to introduce thermal comfort, acoustic comfort and also natural humidity control. The fact that a simple material change can promote better interior air quality without the use of mechanical means represent and great improvement to the industry, not only on the production side but also on during the life of the building. Reducing the energy consumption is a key aspect to avoid the rebounding effect of increasing energy use after providing buildings with better insulation.
The second angle is the curatorship of the speakers. One key aspect beside that the building examples must be built is also their undeniable design quality. It's common that buildings that promote ecological approaches are usually so focused on the technical side of the problem that they neglect the general aesthetic. We invited world awarded guests who are able to design beautiful building and address climate issues, solving the problem thru design and promoting better built environments.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
One of our main priorities of our initiative is to show a diverse range of contexts. Most of the discussion about the impact of construction on the environment is centered in the western world buildings but the reality is that the territories where we'll see the biggest raise on cities population and construction growth on the following years is in Asia and Africa.
This is why we invited to participate in our first event Yasmeen Lari from Pakistan who talked about her Barefood Social Architecture which calls for urgent solutions on the Least Developed Countries, Wael al Awar from UAE who talked about the impact of desalinization of the water and how we must find a solution for the by byproduct of this process, Minímo Comun from Paraguay or Elora Hardy from Indonesia. We wanted to prove that this kind of solution can be made in Germany or Switzerland but also in harder contexts like Asia or South America.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
The built environment is the common ground we hall share. Cities and buildings are the places where societies exchange ideas and construct the future. We strongly believe that the quality of the spaces we inhabit strongly reflect on it's users. This is why we propose a shift to Biogenic Materials, which are able to connect us to earth and it's natural resources at the same time that they provide us a healthier environment to live.
Architecture is a slow process with long lasting impact on the world. In the next 5 years we will build thousands of buildings that will last for 100 or 200 years. It's urgent that we change our approach to construction if we want to improve our legacy for future generations, the buildings will exist, it's up to us to build them better.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
For the first edition we had several regional stakeholder involved as institutional partners, such as the Northern Chapter of the Portuguese Architects Association and Porto Municipality. Their contribute was mainly regarding the divulgation of the event. And was financed by a Portugal 2020.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
The main knowledge field was architecture. The diversity of the representatives allowed us to have an approach from different fields.
Aris Kafantaris, project manager of Kengo Kuma and Associates explained how the office organizes it's production;
Claudia Pasquero e Marco Poletto founders of ecoLogicStudio described their research about the use of algae in construction;
Elora Hardy, founder of Indonesian Studio IBUKU demonstrated the constructive capacities of bambu;
Fabio Gramazio, founder of the first world digital fabrication lab at ETH Zurich, shared is research about digital process on construction;
Gilles Retsin, co-founder of AUAR Labs shared its research about pre-fab as a way to solve housing shortage;
Hans Drexler, founder of DGJ Architektur, showed us how the office reduces active means and replaces them with passive ones;
Lin Lifeng, founder of Lin Architecture, shared his experience working in China rural context;
Luca Compri, founder of LCA architetti, offered a global vision of his work applying natural materials;
Michael Burchert, professor of sustainability at BAUWENDE talked about the use of straw as insulation;
Seryo Merlo, co-founder of Mínimo Común shared his experience in Paraguay;
Paloma Gormley, co-founder of Material Culture shared their research about biogenic materials in UK;
Sonia Sifflet, partner of Lemoal Lemoal talked about the use of hempcrete block for the first time on a French public building;
Valentina Porceddu from MC A talked about a 3d printed house using raw earth;
Wael al Awar founder of waiwai talk about he use of salt to make a Portland cement substitute;
Yasmeen Lari from the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan shares her Barefoot Social Architecture Method.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
On the particular case of Portugal this was the first event ever dedicated to this theme that managed to gather a broad panel of experienced contributes, specially focused on built examples. Because the local industry is still showing some resistance the change, the events related to building sustainability are usually focused on academic contributions. This was the first time that there was an event focused on implemented solutions. We intend to keep this innovative aspect by inviting international renowned architects to share their experiences.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
Our initiative is completely replicated or transferred in any context of the world because this event model is universal and the aim is to always invite people from different contexts. If we change location the only difference will be the place where we do it, but the content will always apply.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
Our approach is based on a extensive research about the leaded of the field. After a broad selection we organized them by themes, Natural Materials and Digital Fabrication. After this we manage to get the final list and organize the event.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
The challenge of the building industry is a global issue. With our local event we try to promote better solution, although it's located in Portugal we had a live streaming online that allowed us to have spectator from all over the world. We hope people get inspired by our guest and start designing better on their daily practice.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
The first edition of the international congress created a legacy, specially thru the book published after. The book is being distributed to all the world and we also created an online platform with all the videos from the event to inspire people all over the world.
The successful result of the initiative is that we were invited to organize the next edition on September 2023.

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
Both
PDF
- pdf-1-19642.pdf
- pdf-1-19642_0.pdf
Web link
- https://www.buildporto.com/
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
The change of the construction industry to adapt to new materials and technologies will have a huge impact on the competences of the current professionals. This challenges will demand a transition to a greener framework.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
{Empty}

By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes