RESEARCH FOCUS | Umbaukultur
The building sector is not only a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, but is also largely responsible for the consumption of non-renewable resources, the production of waste and soil sealing. The measures taken to date (which have focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through thermal insulation in buildings and efficiency improvements in energy supply) have not been sufficient to reduce the environmental and climate impact caused by the building sector. more
RESEARCH FOCUS | Inner-City Development
City centres are particularly important for the identity and public life of cities. Here, historic buildings bear witness to history, while contemporary buildings represent the common good (town hall, administration, museums, etc.). In addition, city centres are home to the most frequented public spaces, which are traditionally brought to life by the numerous retailers located there. However, many city centres are facing significant pressure to change, caused by the growth of ecommerce, more
RESEARCH FOCUS | Urban Intelligence
There is no doubt that cities offer a particularly innovation-friendly environment compared to other forms of settlement. Since their emergence over 6,000 years ago, cities have been centres of social, cultural and technical progress. But for a long time, there were only very general explanations for this. more
RESEARCH PROJECT | Department stores as drivers of sustainable inner-city development
For more than a century, department stores and warehouses were considered the beacons of inner-city retail. The most famous have always been the traditional stores that sprang up in the centres of large cities, but numerous department stores have also been established in small and medium-sized towns. However, due to the smaller, inner-city environment, the department stores there were no less significant for urban development than the traditional stores in the big cities. more
RESEARCH PROJECT | BQ-LCA. Lebenszyklusanalysen von Maßnahmen einer ökologisch-orientierten und sozialverträglichen Bestandsentwicklung von Siedlungen der 1950er bis 1980er Jahre
Building on the project Q-LCA, this research aims to determine CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts caused by the transformation of existing settlements over their entire life cycle. The focus is on post-war housing estates (1950s to 1970s inclusive), as these estates make up a large proportion of the German housing stock and are in great need of renovation due to their age. more
RESEARCH PROJECT | Q-LCA. Analysis of the environmental impact of different settlement structures in new residential areas over their life cycle
How to reduce the primary energy demand of buildings has already been sufficiently researched and tested. The grey energy generated during the construction of buildings, including upstream production processes, has also been well researched. The construction sector also has sophisticated tools for assessing the environmental impact of buildings over their entire life cycle (production, construction, operation). However, the situation is different in the field of urban planning. Although far-reaching and long-term decisions are made in urban development, there is no comparable method for calculating the ecological impact of settlements over their entire life cycle. more
RESEARCH PROJECT | KAUF- UND WARENHÄUSER IM WANDEL. Kleiner baukultureller Statusbericht
Department stores are the oldest form of large-scale retail. However, the success story of department stores is now a thing of the past. Structural changes in the retail sector and changing consumer behaviour have led to department stores losing significant market share and standing empty in many places. Given the architectural and symbolic significance of these buildings for city centres, the question arises as to whether and how they can be reused and adapted to today's needs. more
