Symposium "Duration and Transience. Reflections on the Lifespan of Buildings"

IBB: Institute for Building Research and Conservation CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE Department Civil Engineering Department

Conference

It is surprising that, especially in times when climate justice, CO₂ reduction and sustainability are highly relevant, the lifespan of buildings, as well as that of individual construction measures, tends to play a subordinate role in the current discourse. The Institute for Building Research and Conservation (IBB) wants to counteract this by focussing on this topic and making it the subject of a symposium.

In the midst of efforts to preserve existing buildings, and in some cases to adapt and retrofit them through remodelling, it is important to examine the underlying temporal concepts as a comparison between prognosis and reality. This is also linked to the examination of two traditional concepts of architecture, repairable and recyclable construction.

Building has always required an interdisciplinary approach – all the more so with the increasing demands of sustainability, where the different perspectives of the players often need to be familiarised with first. The symposium offers a platform for those working and researching in the fields of architecture, civil engineering, conservation and restoration as well as building conservation in general to promote inter- and transdisciplinary diversity and facilitate dialogue between the players.

The symposium will take place from 3 to 5 June 2024 ("Lunch-to-Lunch") at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and is linked to a half-day excursion.

Preliminary programme

Monday, 03/06/2024 from 1 pm | Panel: DURATION
Welcome and introduction. Panel: DAUER with the sessions: Design – Build – Preserve. In the evening: Apéro
From 6 pm: Anniversary celebration 20 years of the Master's degree programme in Building Conservation & Construction in Existing Contexts

Tuesday, 04/06/2024 from 09 a.m. | Panel: TRANSIENCE
Panel: COMPARABILITY with the sessions: Design – Build – Preserve. Afternoon: Excursion. Evening (optional): dinner together

Wednesday, 05/06/2024 from 09 a.m. | Panel: PERSPECTIVES
Session: Perspectives. Lunchtime: Final discussion from 11.30 am to 1 pm

Further information will follow shortly.

Target audience: Professional audience University members Public Prospective students