Klimahouse 2025, the future of architecture

Within the next five years, every new building must be zero-emission, in line with the EU’s 2030 decarbonisation target, to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The countdown is accelerating for public buildings, for which energy efficiency targets will start as early as 2028. Equally fundamental is the redevelopment and regeneration of urban heritage, enhancing what exists and creating environments in harmony with nature. A vision that focuses on a conscious use of resources and on solutions that guarantee energy savings and the use of materials with a low environmental impact.

Thanks to a transformation process that integrates circular economy and technological innovation, architecture becomes sustainable and responsible, creating liveable and lasting spaces. These were the central themes of the latest edition of Klimahouse, which was attended by 30 thousand visitors and over 3 thousand participants in the various events, from 29 January to 1 February at Fiera Bolzano.

Read also: Klimahouse 2025: inform, innovate, connect

Transforming spaces, changing lives, shaping the future

Through architecture, abandoned buildings and spaces can be transformed into places for meeting and participation, where socialisation and a sense of belonging become protagonists. This concept guided Klimahouse Congress, which highlighted the importance of designing environments capable of reducing social discomfort and responding to people’s real needs. Anna Heringer, winner of the Aga Khan Award for sustainable architecture and champion of the use of the most common materials on the planet, emphasised how "architecture is a tool for improving living conditions. Nature provides us with all sorts of natural materials: it is up to us designers to learn how to use them."

Sacha Menz also raised fundamental questions: "Resources are ‘finite’, while the needs of people living in houses and buildings are ‘infinite’: technology absorbs and consumes energy, but do we really need it? Aren’t building materials too heavy? How do we manage demolition and re-use disused materials?" Important questions to which answers are urgently needed. Read here to discover the other protagonists of the Congress.

Social and environmental regeneration

Sustainable architecture is a crucial challenge for the future of cities and the environment. Integrating these key principles makes it possible to imagine an urban future in which each intervention becomes part of an ambitious social and ecological regeneration project, transforming cities into balanced spaces that respect the ecosystem and serve the community. A concrete example is the Centro Anck’io project by Antonio Ravalli Architetti, realised in collaboration with architect Giorgio Nicolò.

The project was among the winners of the Wood Architecture Prize 2025, conceived by Klimahouse in collaboration with Turin Polytechnic and Iuav of Venice, now in its third edition. With his studio, the architect has created a meeting and sharing space in the Verona area, accessible to all, adults and children, designed to meet the diverse needs of the community. Read here to find out about the other winners and special mentions.

Wood at the centre

Wood was also among the protagonists of the Klimahouse Tours, organised in cooperation with the Architecture Foundation South Tyrol and architect Rudi Zancan, which saw around 200 people interested in discovering sustainable buildings in South Tyrol: from Bolzano to Brunico to Bassa Atesina, passing through Val Pusteria, there were several examples of buildings that recounted the balanced mix of modernity and sustainability.

Start-ups and new proposals

Another important event, the last pitch session of the Klimahouse Startup Contest: the five start-ups selected by Polihub and reached the finals, competed in front of a jury of industry experts. The winner was BioTitan Nanotechnology, a start-up that develops nanotechnology product families for indoor and outdoor materials. In particular, the company produces anti-slip treatments for floors and solutions for cleaning solar panels. To date, the products are already available on the market and are characterised by their water-based composition, guaranteeing compliance with safety and health regulations.

Last but not least

On the stands in the four halls, companies presented the latest innovations in the responsible building sector. Visitors were able to discover innovative solutions designed to manage time more efficiently, optimise economic resources, ensure energy savings and use raw materials responsibly. Among the proposals were building materials from natural sources, solutions for healthy building and living comfort, all part of a circular economy project to promote social equity. More than 400 companies illustrated the main innovations, presenting key products such as building materials, insulation, roofing, doors and windows, flooring, plant engineering (from lighting to air conditioning and water management) and prefabrication.

Photos FieraMesse – Marco Parisi.