Green-Architecture
This lesson features Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge (TU Berlin) and Prof. Andrea Klinge (FHNW and ZRS Architects Engineers), who share their extensive experience designing and constructing with nature-based materials such as timber, clay, and earth. They present real-world examples of low-tech, circular construction methods and discuss how traditional building knowledge can meet today’s sustainability and climate goals.
Through case studies, they explore how regenerative materials, flexible construction systems, and dismantlable designs can reduce carbon emissions and resource consumption. The lesson also addresses the challenges posed by current building regulations, especially in Germany, and offers insights into the future of architecture within planetary boundaries. Learn how innovation, reuse strategies, and circular thinking are transforming the construction industry toward a zero-emission future.
IN THIS LESSON:
Motivation: The Current Situation in Construction in Germany
Principles of circular, low-tech building systems
Reversible Design for a School Extension in Berlin
The life cycle assessment of natural materials
A deep dive into the Timber Brick Earth concept as a regenerative construction solution
Timber Brick Earth: Research-Based project
Real-World Laboratory: Museum Pavilion in Berlin
Scaling Up Timber Reuse and Innovation
Legislation and Public Acceptance
Following their presentations, Prof. Andrea Klinge and Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge engage in an in-depth Q&A session, discussing key challenges and opportunities in sustainable construction.
KEY TOPICS:
Fire safety and performance in timber buildings
Thermal insulation standards and solutions
The role and regional feasibility of wood as a primary construction material
Limitations and lifecycle impacts of concrete
How to align innovation with legislation and climate goals
Before the practical Hands-on Workshop Living Lab, Sina Jansen and Julian Mönig, architects and researchers at the Natural Living Lab (TU Berlin), introduce key research initiatives exploring circular construction with recycled waste wood and earth materials. They discuss the environmental challenges of construction waste, strategies for reusing timber from demolition sites, and the role of traditional techniques like timber-earth construction in creating long-lasting, low-carbon buildings. Through real-world projects and student collaborations, they highlight how reinterpreting historic methods can inspire innovative, sustainable solutions for today’s construction sector.
IN THIS LESSON:
The mission and methods of the Natural Living Lab
Waste management legislation and its role in the built environment
Challenges to adopting circular construction in practice
A breakdown of real-world projects piloting waste-wood solutions
Broader insights into earth-based construction techniques and material reuse
