The Encyclopedia of Rooftop Additions: B for Building Revolution
What is the building revolution? In Germany we call it the Bauwende: a fundamental change in the construction industry that focuses on sustainability. It aims to minimise resource consumption and environmental impact in the construction sector. It includes measures such as using environmentally friendly building materials, and encouraging energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. The redensification of cities, for example through rooftop additions and adding new storeys, can also contribute to the revolution, as it helps to reduce land consumption and minimize the use of resources. The building revolution is an opportunity to address the challenges of climate change and promote sustainable development.
In Germany, there are many representatives and advocates of the "Bauwende" who are committed to sustainable building and living. These include, for example, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), the Association of German Architects (BDA) and, of course, Architects for Future, an association of architects and urban planners who are committed to climate protection in the construction sector. In 2022, the first A4F Bauwende Festival - a very exciting meetup for the scene - was also held.
We find the work of the world-renowned physicist and climate researcher Hans Joachim Schellnhuber particularly exciting. We were at an event with him in Potsdam last year and this sentence stayed firmly in our minds:
"The industry that produces the most pollution of all can become the silver bullet of climate change. If the construction industry switches to sustainable materials, we can turn our housing developments into CO2 sinks and bring global warming back down to 1.5 degrees in the future. But better late than never!"
RoofUz supports the building revolution and is committed to protecting the environment by offering rooftop additions as a sustainable alternative to the construction of new buildings, and by serving as a networking partner. We love our world and want to beautify it, not destroy it.