Architecture from Nature – Designing and Building within Planetary Boundaries

Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge, Natural Building Lab, TU Berlin; ZRS Architekten, Berlin

The discovery and industrial use of fossil resources fundamentally changed the construction industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The possibility of using cement and steel offered the opportunity to fundamentally redesign the structure of architecture and allowed it to grow vertical. Glazed buildings could be technically air-conditioned and turned away from the climate surrounding them. The visions of modernity resulting from these possibilities still shape our view of architecture, our design and construction of buildings today.

The transformation or adaptation of the resulting consumer-oriented architectural heritage to the planetary boundaries will have to be more central to our efforts than the construction of new buildings. Adaptation to the climatic environment and the use of renewable raw materials offers approaches for architecture that is oriented towards the planet's boundaries.

The natural performance, in particular the ability to control humidity, enables low-tech natural building systems that can largely do without air conditioning technology. The focus in design must turn away from the belief in technical solutions and develop intelligent passive-natural strategies for buildings.

The Natural Building Lab uses transdisciplinary DesignBuild formats in learning/teaching and research with and for society to find culturally and climatically adapted solutions in the building sector. Wood, earth and bamboo will represent an essential resource for sustainable building.