Sustainability Sustainability is to become the guiding principle of social action and economic
activity. At the same time its ways and means are far from clear. As a holistic praxis
sustainability must combine technical and material as well as social economic ecological and
also ethical strategies which have multiple complex interactions and all too often also
conflicting goals and priorities. In no other field can these be better observed addressed and
influenced than in architecture and building. Building Better - Less - Different Each volume of
Building Better - Less - Different details two fundamental areas of sustainability and explores
their specific dynamics and interactions. After introductory overviews innovative methods and
current developments are described and analysed in in-depth essays international case studies
and pointed commentaries. The sustainability criteria of efficiency (better) sufficiency
(less) and consistency (different) form the framework for each book. What the press say about
the first volume Circular Construction and Circular Economy The articles case studies and
commentaries in this book make a major contribution to advancing the current discourse on
implementing circular-based economic models in the building sector. Hessian Chamber of
Architects book reviews To think of tomorrow when building today is the core message that Dirk
E. Hebel and Felix Heisel want to convey to their readers. ... And they also show us how: with
the help of relevant examples grouped under the headings 'better' 'less' and 'different'
they demonstrate concrete applications and argue that circular construction can also benefit
the construction industry... architektur aktuell Clean energy transition It has long been
common knowledge that energy and sustainability are closely interlinked. And yet we are
witnessing a profound shift in the sector. While the earlier focus was on improving energy
efficiency and increasing the proportion of renewable energy in buildings current energy
conservation policies are supporting a broader more holistic view. This encompasses integral
approaches in which building design and construction measures form part of the energy concept
from the outset as well as accounting for grey energy in building materials and a holistic
evaluation of buildings over their entire life cycle. For the energy-intensive and
emission-producing building sector climate change presents an even greater challenge than
conserving resources. How can we contribute to a shift in heating strategies and employ new
technologies to achieve climate-neutral heating? How can we respond to rising temperatures and
the risk of increased energy consumption for cooling? Can low-tech concepts help to reduce the
environmental impact of buildings over their life cycle? Shouldn't we take greater account of
the users of buildings and do we need completely different energy supply strategies? Digital
Transformation At a time of natural ubiquity of digital tools widely adopted to streamline
project delivery in architecture the foundations have been laid for a profound transformation
of the construction industry to address the climate crisis. Digital architectural design and
construction methods can be used as enabling technologies for a fundamental change towards a
circular construction approach with significantly reduced ecological and climate impact. This
approach comprises a digital reinterpretation of natural building materials through digital
construction technologies. Digital deconstruction and reuse strategies can transform the
existing building stock into resources for the future. Mass customization of tailor-made
building components minimizes resource consumption. Architects in their emerging role as
interdisciplinary interface and digital master builders reunite design and making through
digital craft. Finally the book provides a glimpse into the potential future of construction
which might be characterized by fundamentally different concepts of design and materialization
of our built environment challenging current paradigms within our discipline.
