Innovation and sustainability in the construction industry

The Future Builders 2024 international conference, organized by the Polish company Aluprof, took place on Oct. 16 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Warsaw. This fifth edition was attended by renowned architects and experts from the construction industry, who jointly discussed the future of architecture.

Fourteen panelists discussed topics such as sustainable development, building renovation and the evolution of architecture over the years in three discussion panels. During a festive evening following the conference, the winners of the "Building of the Year with Aluprof Systems" competition were announced. This competition rewards the best use of Aluprof systems worldwide. Participants in the various discussions included prominent Polish and international architects and experts from the construction industry, such as José Pareja Gomez of Zaha Hadid Architects, Alexandra Virlan of the Dutch company UNStudio and Ian Bogle of the award-winning Bogle Architects. The event had an open character, allowing professionals in attendance to ask questions and voice their opinions.

Panel 1: Sustainable development in architecture

The first panel, "Sustainable development in architecture: a slogan or a real need?" explored how architects can contribute to the fight against climate change with innovative technologies. Alexandra Virlan emphasized the value of sustainable façade solutions, while Edyta Stanek of ML System highlighted the importance of innovation in reducing the ecological footprint. The panelists talked about systemic solutions and technologies being implemented in different countries to achieve a more sustainable future.

Panel 2: Building renovation and repurposing

The second panel, "NEW or RENEWED: Building Revitalization as a Direction for the Architecture of the Future," addressed the emerging trend of renovation and repurposing of existing buildings. Participants included Bledion Baraliu - one of the pioneers of the implementation of BIM technology in architecture in Kosovo and the southern Balkans, Colman Billings - Managing Director of Billings Design Associates, and architect Ian Bogle. All participants agreed on the need to maintain a balance between new and renovated buildings, and to strive to minimize the negative impact of the construction industry on the environment. In her speech, Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys, a member of SARP's Polish Council of Architects, pointed out that sustainable development should be the starting point for both renovation and new construction. According to her, new investments should be flexible so that a building can change its function over time.

Panel 3: Evolution of architecture in the last decade

The third panel, led by Professor Ewa Kuryłowicz, focused on changes in architecture over the past decade. She shared a case study on the design of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics building at the University of Warsaw, which won the award for "Building of the Year with Aluprof Systems" in 2022. The discussion highlighted the influence of technological and social developments on design. The architects discussed how social issues are increasingly influencing building design.

During a panel discussion organized on the occasion of the fifth edition of the competition "Building of the Year with Aluprof Systems," winners from previous years sat down as participants. The Polish architects Andrzej M. Chołdzyn´ski, Ewa Kuryłowicz, Przemo Łukasik, Zbigniew Mac´ków and Marcin Sadowski agreed that they would design their competition buildings in the same way now, but pointed to the tremendous development in building technology over the past decade, which allows for even more ecological solutions. Ewa Kuryłowicz emphasized that the final appearance of a building today is determined much more by social issues and not - as it was a decade ago - by formal or aesthetic considerations.

Building of the Year with Aluprof Systems 2024

The conference concluded with the annual gala, in which the contest winners were honored. This year, Aluprof had nearly 230 entries to choose from. Awards were presented in several categories, including international projects and a new category for sustainable projects.

Main prizes

Bernardyn´ska 4, Wrocław - Designed by Mac´ków Pracownia Projektowa, this project was awarded the first prize of PLN 50,000 (€11,492) for its exceptional aesthetic and sustainable design

Lakeside, Warsaw - Grupa 5 Architekci received the second prize of PLN 30,000 (€6,895) for this modern office building.

LPP Fashion Lab, Gdan´sk - The project by JEMS Architekci received the third prize of PLN 15,000 (€3,447) and was praised for its innovative architectural approach.

Aluprof systems are used worldwide, so international awards were also given. First place in this category went to Tower 15, an apartment complex in Portugal, designed by OODA. Second prize went to Mendelův Skleník in Brno, Czech Republic, designed by Chybík + Krištof Architects.

This year, Aluprof introduced the new "Green Future" category, with the Cavatina Group winning awards for their industry-leading sustainability projects.