May 2023

Phil Niemeyer, Felix Roder and Niklas Haschke, all graduates of Bauhaus-Universität Weimer, were successful in the nationwide "Built on IT" competition. The competition is about finding innovative digital solutions in the construction industry. The award-winning works deal with current challenges in the construction industry, such as cost-effective construction, digitalization and...

The Agency for Municipal Climate Protection recently started advising municipalities on energy and climate protection. Among other things, local authorities can obtain advice on funding opportunities and help with applications. They can also obtain information on the e-cargo bike directive, for example. The agency operates nationwide. "Cities, districts and municipalities are key players...

A dispute over a cypress tree on the property boundary of two neighbors in Trudering recently occupied the Munich District Court (case no. 155 C 10864/18). The roots of the cypress tree, which stands on the defendant's property, are said to have lifted the neighbor's garage foundation. The door could hardly be opened. Cracks had also appeared in the side wall of the garage. The...

Fewer flowers and plants were sold last year than in previous years. According to estimates by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft mbH (AMI), consumers in Germany spent an average of around 22 euros on bedding and balcony plants in 2022, almost 1 percent less than before the pandemic. The AMI attributes the reluctance to buy plants to rising energy costs and an increasing...

Households receiving basic income support or citizens' allowance in old age spend more money per month on heating and electricity than comparable households with low incomes. This is the result of a recently published study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). Between 2010 and 2019, the affected households paid an average of €5.30 more per month for heating and...

The winners of the "Häuser-Awards 2023" of the architecture magazine "Häuser" for individual solutions in existing buildings have been announced. First place goes to Berlin architect Thomas Kröger (Thomas Kröger Architekten) for the "Haus in den Söllen" in the Uckermark - a country house with a rendered façade. Second place goes to the DMVA office from Mechelen for the "Haus PVO" in the...

Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), the energy transition can be realized more easily. In addition, AI agents will be able to automate complex control processes that are currently still difficult for humans and technology to manage. These are the findings of the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE. In a three-year research program...

The agreement of reservation fees in the general terms and conditions of real estate agents is invalid. This was recently decided by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH). The decision also applies to cases in which the reservation fee is not included in the original brokerage contract but was agreed separately at a later date. Customers can therefore claim the reservation fee paid...

Babies become mobile in their first year of life and begin to explore their surroundings. It is therefore important to make the nursery and home childproof in good time. According to the German Furniture Quality Association (DGM), parents can look out for the RAL "Golden M" quality mark when buying furniture. This ensures that the furniture is child-safe and tested for harmful substances. To avoid the risk of injury...

There is a shortage of around 2.2 million age-appropriate apartments in Germany. According to consistent media reports, this is the result of a study conducted by the Pestel Institute on behalf of the Bundesverband Deutscher Baustoff-Fachhandel. Only around 600,000 of the 2.8 million senior households are currently age-appropriate. However, the institute predicts that by 2040 at least 3.3 million...