Construction industry

A pilot project with an innovative textile façade that effectively binds nitrogen oxides was recently launched in Cologne. The textile façade filters harmful nitrogen oxides from the air and converts them into harmless nitrates to improve air quality in the city center. The façade is made from recycled PET bottles and aluminum. In addition, no adhesives were used for the textile façade,...

If builders want to construct a house without a basement, a so-called load-bearing floor slab is used. It serves as a foundation and creates a transition between the ground and the rest of the building. The load-bearing floor slab also fulfills various functions: For example, it distributes the weight of the house evenly over the ground and protects against moisture. It should also...

According to the Bauherren-Schutzbund (BSB), only two to three percent of all homes are classified as barrier-free. According to the BSB, barrier-free living not only increases living comfort for older people, but also benefits all generations. A level-access shower or step-free access to the living area are examples of measures that make everyday life easier and improve...

The Federal Court of Justice recently clarified the obligations to carry out decorative repairs in tenancy agreements (BGH; VIII ZB 43/23). In essence, the issue is that the responsibility for decorative repairs can be effectively transferred from the landlord to the tenant by means of standard contract clauses. However, this presupposes that the apartment is in a renovated condition at the start of the tenancy....

The Association of Towns and Municipalities is calling for the construction of new shelters. The current number of 600 operational public shelters is insufficient, as they only offer protection for around 500,000 people. It is therefore necessary to make disused bunkers usable again and to build new shelters. In view of the changed security situation as a result of the Russian war of aggression against the...

The Technical University of Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) is researching innovative ways to reuse waste wood in the construction industry. The aim of this research is to reduce wood consumption and make wooden components recyclable. The "Recycling for Future" and "Recycling for Reuse" projects aim to show how wood can be efficiently kept in the material cycle. Every year in...

Riken Yamamoto, an architect from Yokohama, Japan, is the winner of the Pritzker Prize 2024. The Pritzker Prize is a globally renowned award in the field of architecture. Riken Yamamoto promotes a harmonious society through his designs. He challenges conventional views of freedom and privacy and emphasizes the importance of community and...

A company recently moved into a 3D-printed house in Heidelberg. According to the responsible Kraus Group, the house is "currently the largest 3D-printed building in Europe" and is made of "100% recyclable material". It is 54 meters long, 11 meters deep and 9 meters high and its façade is reminiscent of waves. According to the Kraus Group, the house is...

The German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association (DeSH) is confronted with a serious problem: an increasing lack of insurance cover in the industry. The DeSH is alarmed by the growing number of companies that can no longer find insurance partners. Fire detection and firefighting measures are no longer adequate, especially for small to medium-sized companies.

The shortage of skilled workers in the roofing trade is to be combated by offering the possibility of so-called partial qualifications. These partial qualifications give people over the age of 25 the opportunity to gradually acquire professional skills and ultimately obtain a full vocational qualification. Rolf Fuhrmann, the deputy managing director of the Central Association of the...