Videos

Watch a 5-minute summary featuring statements on “Re-materializing construction”, the topic of the 6th International Holcim Forum, by Lord Norman Foster, Marc Angélil, Alejandro Aravena, Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Anna Heringer, Laila Iskandar, Francis Kéré, Anne Lacaton, Stuart Smith, Brinda Somaya, and Rt Hon Simon Upton. 

“We need knowledge to address the built environment,” says Alejandro Aravena following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Aravena is partner architect of Elemental in Chile and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. 

“Follow a material’s life-cycle to get a better view of the industry,” concludes Kai-Uwe Bergmann at the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Bergmann is partner architect at Bjarke Ingels Group and was a workshop respondent at the Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction. 

“We can provide the supply but not the demand,” states Cédric de Meeûs following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction” with regard to the recycling of concrete. De Meeûs is Head of Public Affairs of Holcim. 

“We need to challenge the limits of materials,” demands Jens Diebold following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Diebold is Head of Sustainable Development of Holcim and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation. 

“Materials are forever stretching the boundaries of what is possible – in a future of doing more with less,” says Lord Norman Foster following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Lord Foster is founder and principal of Foster & Partners and was the opening keynote speaker at the Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction. 

“We have to work together – building naturally or industrially,” says Anna Heringer following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Heringer is Honorary Professor of the UNESCO Chair in Earthen Architecture and co-moderated a workshop at the Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction.

“It’s too simple to say we need sustainable building materials – we need a systematic approach,” notes Jan Jenisch following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Jenisch is the CEO of Holcim and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. 

“It’s important to talk about how to deal with materials in the future,” says Francis Kéré following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Kéré is principal of Kéré Architecture in Berlin and was a keynote speaker at the Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction.

“We have enough existing materials – we can improve them and make them more effective,” explains Anne Lacaton following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Lacaton is co-founder of Lacaton & Vassal architects in Paris and was a keynote speaker at the Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction. 

“The least resource consumption for a maximum use,” summarizes Michael Scharpf following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction.” Scharpf is Lead Manager Sustainable Construction of Holcim.

“Concrete is a very ecologically-friendly and local material – it must be improved and made more efficient,” explains Karen Scrivener following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Scrivener is Head of the Laboratory of Construction Materials at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL Lausanne).

“The better we understand the materials we’ve got, the sooner we can start to deal with their problems,” summarized Stuart Smith following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction”. Smith is director at Arup in Germany and the UK, and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. 

“From new construction to waste collection – re-materializing has many angles,” says Brinda Somaya following the Holcim Forum in Egypt. Somaya is Principal of Somaya & Kalappa Consultants in India and member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. 

“Bring all the knowledge to the political decision-makers,” demands Rt Hon Simon Upton following the Holcim Forum on “Re-materializing construction” where he was concluding keynote speaker. Upton is the former Environmental Director of the OECD and currently New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.