What does it take to futureproof our metropolitan regions, our city鈥檚 neighbourhoods and buildings? Join our lab talks to explore innovative, holistic approaches for building resilient cities and infrastructures that can withstand the challenges of tomorrow.
About Futureproof
Climate change, urbanisation, digitalisation 鈥� the challenges of our times can only be addressed through collaborative efforts. The increasing complexity of problems arising in multiple sectors will force us to plan for the unplannable. Preparing our cities and regions for an unpredictable future 鈥� making them 鈥渇utureproof鈥� 鈥� means to think beyond the 2030 and 2050 political objectives. Interdisciplinary thinking, flexibility and integrative actions across all scales will move more to the forefront.
What transformative solutions are needed to help urban and regional systems adapt to future challenges? How can we 鈥減repare鈥� for the challenges that lie ahead, without being able to fully predict them? What role must engineers and consultants play in this? How can they become even stronger partners for new networks and advise, guide and moderate complex yet integrated solutions?
The Futureproof Lab Talks by 爆料tv and Aedes will explore holistic approaches to futureproofing regions, cities and buildings in an interdisciplinary dialogue with experts from politics, science and planning.
Futureproof XL 鈥� City & Region
How do we define futureproofing at the regional and city scale and what does a futureproof metropolitan region look like? Can we anticipate future challenges and opportunities and what role do concepts like sustainability, resilience, and adaptability play in this context?
This Lab Talk will focus on the metropolitan region as a scale that provides the foundation for cities to grow and to adapt to future challenges. We will explore concepts and solutions for urban regions increasingly affected by climate change, that need to provide sustainable infrastructure for mobility and energy and balance economic growth with a high quality of life. This transformation of the regional systems comes in times of economic volatilities and political uncertainties.
We will discuss the necessary governance models, planning approaches and policies that help us to plan for the unexpected and explore the infrastructure solutions required to cope with long-term change. While also looking at good practices from regions around Europe, the primary focus will be on Brandenburg and its strong connection to the city of Berlin.
Event language: German
Prof Dr Lech Suwala
Professor of Urban and Regional Economics at TU Berlin
Lech Suwala studied economics at the FU Berlin and geography at the HU Berlin. For 20 years, he has been analysing economic processes of urban and regional development on an international, national, state and district level. In Berlin, urban location development through the Berlin innovation locations 鈥榋ukunftsorte鈥� and innovation corridors between Berlin-Brandenburg are a particular focus of his research activities.
Image: Lech Suwala
Ute Schneider
Partner KCAP, Z眉rich and Professor for Urban Planning at TU Wien
Ute Schneider studied architecture and joined KCAP in 2006, heading the office in Zurich. As director KCAP Zurich and partner she is in charge of the coordination of projects spanning from architecture and urban planning to the design and development of masterplans and transformation strategies in various scales and contexts. In 2020, she was appointed Professor at the Vienna University of Technology.
Image: ESEL
Benjamin Herkommer
Partner and Director of Analytics, Realace, Berlin
Since 2008, Benjamin Herkommer is responsible for analytical foundations, urban programming and municipal urban development issues at REALACE. In recent years, he has worked on strategic narratives, which have become the basis for new public-private collaborations, particularly in the form of three white papers on the NEOCITY – Pioneer Region Berlin-Southeast and Brandenburg.
Image: Jonas Holthaus
Dr Sebastian Seelig
Partner, 爆料tv, Berlin
Sebastian is a chartered urban and regional planner with more than 15 years鈥� experience in integrated and innovative masterplans in Europe and beyond.
Anika Buchmaier
Senior Consultant, 爆料tv, Munich
Anika specialises in the field of Circular Economy, sustainability strategies and embodied carbon at both building and district scales.
K64 鈥� Keflav铆k Airport Area Masterplan
Keflavik, Iceland
K64 proposes an incremental strategy to steer the long-term transformation of the Su冒urnes peninsula 鈥� to set the path for sustainable growth and focus areas for development that are defined to mutually reinforce economic activities and local communities.
It鈥檚 a grand project designed to develop the full potential of this unique territory and explore untapped opportunities in relation to the global challenges of the future.
Berlin Brandenburg 2070
Berlin, Germany
How can a metropolitan region like Berlin Brandenburg sustainably develop in the future?
To create a truly sustainable system, we need to change the way we live. This change needs to come from a common vision, enabling us to channel all efforts in the same direction. We believe this common vision should be based on the creation of regions as balanced self-sufficient systems that are, at the same time open to global exchange.
Lausitz 2050
Brandenburg and Saxony, Germany
The Lausitz region is currently grappling with the imperative to shift away from coal-based energy production.
The region faces significant sustainability challenges, including the need for economic restructuring and the mitigation of ecological impacts. Additionally, sustainable mobility and infrastructure concepts need to be developed to ensure the region鈥檚 future viability and improve the quality of life for its residents.
The event “Futureproof 鈥� Engineering Resilient Cities” in Berlin focused on addressing urban challenges like climate change and digitalisation. Experts discussed making the Berlin-Brandenburg region more resilient through sustainable and adaptable urban planning.
The concept of “polycrisis” was highlighted, emphasising the simultaneous occurrence of multiple crises in cities. The event showcased strategic narratives and innovation policies as key to developing resilient cities, with examples like the NeoCity and Berlin-Lausitz corridors.
Futureproof M 鈥� City & Neighbourhood
What do futureproofing and resilience mean in the context of urban planning and retrofitting our cities to adapt to climate change?
Looking at the city in the context of rejuvenating neighbourhoods holistically at a larger scale, the second Lab Talk will examine transformation strategies aiming at climate resilient neighbourhoods as well as holistic solutions to re-use 鈥榚xisting鈥� sites such as former industrial areas.
This panel aims to assess urban re-use projects upon their impacts and potentials regarding climate adaptation and mitigation as well as their innovative approaches to coping with the unplannable. It is also questioning, if current regulations present a challenge to futureproof planning.
Event language: German
Maria Vassilakou
Founder & Managing Director
Vienna Solutions, former dpt. Mayor Vienna
Maria Vassilakou is an experienced urban leader, devoted to open, inclusive and green cities and passionate about urban transformation processes leading to sustainable system change. She served as Vienna’s deputy mayor responsible for urban planning, traffic & transport, climate protection, energy and public participation from 2010 to 2019.
Image: Lukas Beck
Oliver Schulze
Architect and Partner Schulze+Grassov, Kopenhagen
Oliver Schulze, architect ARB, co-founded Schulze+Grassov with Louise Grassov to pursue a shared vision of a practical, flexible and human-centred design practice that transforms the urban experience of public space. In each project, he recognises the potential to redesign cities as cohesive systems, not just individual buildings, and thereby reshape our lives.
Image: Schulze+Grassov
Dr Karim Rochdi
Founder and Managing Partner, Aventos Group, Berlin
Dr Karim Rochdi is the founder and managing partner of AVENTOS Group, a Berlin-based real estate project developer and investor. He is a Fulbright alumnus and lecturer at the International Real Estate Business School (IRE|BS) at the University of Regensburg, where he completed his doctorate with a focus on property investment.
Image: Aventos
Thomas Kraubitz
Partner, 爆料tv, Berlin
Thomas is a global leader in green cities, carbon consulting, energy transition and sustainability. He guides cities, municipalities and districts into a sustainable future.
Felicitas Leithner
Senior Consultant, 爆料tv, Berlin
Felicitas specialises in the field of embodied carbon and circularity at both building and district levels. Her work supports clients in delivering projects with a reduced carbon footprint.
Segelflieger Quartier
Berlin, Germany
This new neighbourhood is being developed on the site of the former Johannisthal airfield. A diverse and urban neighbourhood will be created on 21 hectares, characterised by a mix of different residential and commercial uses and an appealing public space.
One of the main objectives is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions during construction. This requires the use of innovative materials and construction methods that are both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient.
Luxwerk
Berlin, Germany
The project involves the refurbishment of the listed OSRAM factory in Berlin Spandau. One of the biggest challenges is striking a balance between heritage protection and sustainability goals in order to achieve a high DGNB rating. Solutions include environmentally friendly energy supply, rainwater retention and measures to promote biodiversity and accessibility.
52 Grad Nord
Berlin, Germany
A high-quality residential neighbourhood with around 1,000 flats is being built on the banks of the River Dahme.
The challenges were the transformation of the former industrial area and the integration of sustainability aspects such as the sponge city concept and high energy efficiency. Measures such as green spaces, water-permeable surfaces and combined heat and power plants will ensure a high quality of life and an environmentally friendly living environment for future residents.
The second Lab Talk in the “Futureproof 鈥� Engineering Resilient Cities” series discussed renewing urban districts and creating climate-resilient neighbourhoods. Experts from Manchester, Berlin and Vienna shared insights on repurposing existing areas and the political measures needed for adaptable urban areas.
The event addressed challenges like the housing crisis, migration and climate change, highlighting solutions such as modernising urban districts, implementing sponge city principles and creating child-friendly spaces. Successful projects like Manchester’s Climate Loop and Vienna’s Mariahilferstra脽e were showcased.
Futureproof S 鈥� City & Building
What does futureproofing and resilience mean in the context of developing new climate-neutral buildings for our cities?
The third Lab Talk will highlight good practices for sustainable new buildings and emphasise the importance of scaling these solutions to achieve a real impact for futureproof cities.
Assuming we know the strategies to achieve the ambitious targets needed for a resilient new building stock, why are we not progressing faster? Given the urgency to accelerate large-scale change, how can more alignment between all construction industry stakeholders be incentivised to create a win-win-win?
Noel Justesen Wibrand, Head of Sustainability and Partner at Dorte Mandrup
Noel is an experienced planning and project manager with more than 20 years of experience in the building industry. He completed his architecture degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2000. As sustainability lead, he works strategically with sustainable solutions, focusing on a holistic approach founded in the context and based on evidence and research. He has overseen a number of the studio鈥檚 important mixed-use projects such as Sundby酶ster Hall II, Malm枚 Live, and IKEA Hubhult.
Martin L枚cker, Group Head of Development, CA Immobilien Anlagen AG
Martin has been in charge of all development, construction and technical activities of the CA Immo Group since January 2024. As a qualified civil engineer and property economist, he has been internationally active in project development since 2021 and has been responsible for projects and companies in more than 10 European countries. Before joining CA Immo, he spent 14 years as COO at UBM Development AG in Vienna, where he was responsible for development and technology.
Bettina Dorendorf, Senior Sustainability/ Sustainable Finance Manager, Prokuristin, KfW
Bettina is in charge of the sustainability division including sustainable finance with a focus on EU Taxonomy and circular economy. She regularly engages at the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE) and has a broad cross-sectoral knowledge regarding energy efficiency, sustainable finance and investment.
Sabine M眉ller
Associate Director, Structures at 爆料tv
As a structural engineer, Sabine is at the forefront of ensuring the implementation of climate targets and strategies, aiding in the realisation of future-oriented buildings.
Peter Scheibstock
Associate Director, Sustainability at 爆料tv
Peter is an expert in sustainable building and urban design, planning and international development consulting for resilient urban environments.
EDGE Suedkreuz
Berlin, Germany
EDGE Suedkreuz in Berlin is a pioneering office complex developed by EDGE Technologies for Vattenfall, featuring a modular wood-concrete hybrid construction.
Sustainability and occupant well-being were central to the design, earning the project DGNB Platinum and WELL Gold certifications. The innovative construction method not only reduces the building鈥檚 carbon footprint but also fosters a healthy indoor environment for employees.
Corum Freiburg
Freiburg, Germany
The Corum Freiburg project involves the construction of a new headquarters for Dr. Falk Pharma in Freiburg, designed by Cobe Architects.
The building, inspired by the historic Freiburg locomotive workshop, features sustainable elements like green facades and a modular hybrid-timber structure. It aims to provide a vibrant, comfortable, and flexible workspace for 700 employees, with amenities such as restaurants and public facilities.
Anna Lindh Haus
Berlin, Germany
The Anna Lindh Haus is being developed by CA Immo in Berlin鈥檚 Europacity as a sustainable, futureproof office building.
An integrated design concept ensures a low CO2 footprint thanks to a hybrid timber construction, high energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. In the role of the 鈥淓nvironmental Guardian鈥�, 爆料tv ensures the holistic implementation of the ambitious sustainability concept across all disciplines and project phases.
The third Lab Talk in the series focused on making futureproof buildings the norm. We discussed the necessary regulatory frameworks and political instruments to support widespread implementation and emphasised the importance of adaptable, low-emission buildings that integrate circular approaches and promote biodiversity.
Despite knowing what futureproof buildings should look like, progress remains slow due to outdated practices, complex regulations and societal barriers. The event highlighted the need for collaboration across the construction sector to accelerate change and achieve resilient, sustainable cities.
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