Topic: Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning
Davor Meersman pt 5 – Should We Stop Building? A Debate on the Future of Urban Development
Do we actually need more buildings? Davor Meersman responds to the argument that we should stop new construction altogether and instead retrofit existing spaces. He examines the environmental costs of traditional materials like concrete and steel, the risks of toxic building materials, and why he believes sustainable new construction must be part of the solution.
Sustainability Building materials and techniques Climate change and adaptation Environmental conservation Resource management and efficiency Lifecycle thinking and long-term planningJan Bunge pt 3 – The New European Bauhaus and Rethinking Urban Development
How do we build better cities when decision-making is short-term and profit-driven? Jan Bunge reflects on the challenges of property development, risk aversion, and the barriers to innovation in the built environment. He considers whether public administration could once again become a space for radical, forward-thinking urbanism, and what role the New European Bauhaus can play in shifting priorities.
Systems thinking Urban design and development Sustainability Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning Ecosystem approach Local and regional solutionsMatti Kuittinen pt 2 – Resilient Cities, Climate Change, and the Lessons of Disaster
How do we design for an unpredictable future? Matti Kuittinen shares insights from his work in disaster-prone regions, including Haiti and Japan, to explore how architecture can build resilience. He examines the role of city planning in mitigating climate-related risks and the political challenges of long-term thinking in an era of short-term governance.
Architectural education and practice Climate change and adaptation European collaboration and policy Resource management and efficiency AI and digital tools Lifecycle thinking and long-term planningMatti Kuittinen pt 4 – Beyond Borders: The New European Bauhaus and a Global Perspective
Is the New European Bauhaus a uniquely European movement? Matti Kuittinen challenges the idea of national boundaries in design, arguing that the initiative must address planetary-scale challenges. He considers how the movement can influence global construction culture, how European policies compare with international efforts, and what role architecture might play in the far future—even beyond Earth.
Sustainability Resource management and efficiency Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning European collaboration and policy New European Bauhaus Human-centered designMatti Kuittinen pt 5 – Aesthetics, Circularity, and the Case for Ugly Buildings
Can we learn to love ugly buildings? Matti Kuittinen redefines aesthetics in the context of sustainability, arguing that the most climate-friendly buildings might not always be the most beautiful by traditional standards. He explores how we can rethink materials, reuse existing structures, and create a built environment that aligns with the planet’s limits while remaining desirable.
Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning Circular economy Interdisciplinary approach New European BauhausSheela Patel pt 3 – The New European Bauhaus and the Global South
Why is a community organiser from Mumbai advising the EU on architecture and design? Sheela Patel discusses her role on the New European Bauhaus high-level roundtable and how European policies influence—and sometimes harm—communities in the Global South. She challenges Europe to rethink its sustainability goals in a way that accounts for global responsibility rather than just local impact.
Sustainability New European Bauhaus Urban design and development Inclusion Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning European collaboration and policy