International experts from research, planning and architecture discussed resource-efficient construction.

Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials worldwide, and at the same time one of the most controversial. At the joint symposium "Sustainable Building with Concrete?" organized by iC consulenten and the Architekturzentrum Wien (Vienna Architecture Center), experts from research, planning, and architecture discussed ways to reduce the material's ecological footprint. Numerous professionals, including Vienna's City Planning Director Bernhard Jarolim, Hannes Stangl, CEO of Sozialbau AG, and architect Wolfgang Holzer, accepted the invitation to gain new perspectives on this building material.

Research, practice and architecture in dialogue

The event focused on the questions of where the use of concrete remains indispensable and how material development can be steered towards sustainability. Following welcoming remarks by Helmut Zehentner, partner at iC consulenten, and Angelika Fitz, director of the Architekturzentrum Wien, Wojciech Czaja, a journalist specializing in architecture and urban culture, moderated the program.

In the subsequent double presentation, Stefan Krispel, Managing Director of Smart Minerals GmbH, and Helmut Zehentner presented current approaches and practical examples for reducing CO₂ emissions from concrete. The presentations by Martina Bauer, Managing Director of Barkow Leibinger Architects, and Martina Maier, architect at Snøhetta Studio Innsbruck, focused on specific projects showcasing new approaches to resource-efficient construction. Topics ranged from experimental new buildings using ultra-lightweight concrete to the transformation of existing buildings. The event concluded with a stimulating panel discussion with the speakers, in which participants explored the potential and limitations of concrete construction in the context of climate change, the circular economy, and architectural responsibility. The discussion revealed that sustainable building is less a question of materials and more a matter of conscious planning and use.

Conscious building as a shared mission

Helmut Zehentner emphasizes the need to further integrate engineering knowledge and architecture: „Sustainability in construction arises where technological innovation, planning responsibility, and architectural quality come together. Concrete is not an obsolete material, but one that we must rethink through research and conscious application – with a focus on circular economy, durability, and resource efficiency.“

Angelika Fitz adds: „Construction is currently responsible for a large share of global resource consumption and is the world’s largest producer of waste. That’s the bad news. The good news is that resource-efficient architecture is a huge lever in the climate crisis – which makes it all the more important to look closely at which materials are used, when, and where. Whether wood, clay, brick, or concrete: every material has its strengths when used in the right context. Sustainable architecture begins with deciding what is truly needed.“

A united signal for change

With this symposium, iC consulenten and the Architekturzentrum Wien (Vienna Architecture Center) sent a strong signal for interdisciplinary dialogue between research, planning, and construction practice. They demonstrated that sustainable building is only possible through the interplay of engineering, architecture, and social responsibility.