(v.l.) Rüdiger Keinberger (CEO, LOXONE), Rainer Nowak (Moderator), Azra Dudakovic (Head of DIM, Stadt Wien – Wiener Wohnen), Sonja Hammerschmid (Head of Research and Development, GROPYUS), Andreas Holler (Geschäftsführer, BUWOG) und Christian Heiss (Architekt, Atelier Heiss) bei der neuen und bereits 3. Ausgabe von „BUWOG im Gespräch“.

Varying approaches to the topic fill the evening
Stimulating discussions and knowledge-sharing at the podium and among the guests
The event has become a fixture for construction and real estate industry players

For the third time, BUWOG hosted a new edition of the “BUWOG in Dialogue” event series on Thursday, 24 October 2024. The venue was once again the Customer and Administrative Centre on Vienna’s Rathausstrasse. This time, the focus was on the topic of “Real Estate of the Future – Smart Buildings”, as the digital transformation has long made headway into the property sector, making connectivity in planning and implementing future buildings a requirement.

Rüdiger Keinberger gave an introductory keynote speech to inspire the audience for the panel discussion and familiarise them with the topic. The CEO of the Austrian technology company LOXONE, which develops and sells building automation products, is not only a specialist in the field of “smart buildings”; his enthusiasm for the topic was plain to see.

In his presentation, he talked about the idea that LOXONE views the smart home as a human body whose brain – as a controller – makes decisions that are intended to make life (i.e. the living space) more comfortable, safer and more energy-efficient. He then used examples to illustrate how building automation can improve the way we work and live with intelligent automation solutions and how there are theoretically no limits to what is possible.

Rainer Nowak then moderated the discussion with the panellists Azra Dudakovic (director of DIM, City of Vienna – Wiener Wohnen), Sonja Hammerschmid (director of research and development, GROPYUS), Christian Heiss (architect, Atelier Heiss) and Andreas Holler (managing director, BUWOG), who examined the subject of real estate of the future and intelligent connectivity and automation in buildings from entirely different perspectives.

That the event has already been very well received in the industry was also demonstrated by the number of guests in attendance: BUWOG once again welcomed around 200 participants from the business, construction and property sectors to its own event hall. Among them were familiar faces such as Daniela Witt-Dörring (partner at WEBER & Co.), Jasmin Soravia (managing partner at Kollitsch & Soravia Immobilien GmbH), Gerhard Haumer (managing partner at Alpha & Partner), Sne Veselinović (architect) and Rainer Altmann (programme director for real estate at the University for Continuing Education Krems).

Real estate of the future: smart buildings

For years, the discourse on urban planning has been concerned with intelligent redensification, unsealing and more greenery. What is beyond question is the fact that our cities need to become environmentally fit. In addition to the aforementioned factors, digitalisation also plays a significant role, both in forward-looking urban planning and in the smart retrofitting of existing buildings.

This is because networkable, intelligent in-house systems and devices help to ensure more efficient and more resource-friendly utilisation. Smart applications are increasingly becoming an integral element of architecture and are likely to offer even more opportunities for automating processes in residential and office properties in the future. The aim is to enhance the comfort of working and living while simultaneously counteracting climate change through energy efficiency. Thus it is no surprise that the market for smart buildings is experiencing rapid growth.

For Rüdiger Keinberger, who talked at length about the potentials and advantages of smart buildings this evening, there is no doubt that they are the future. “The question is whether one can still afford NOT to invest in intelligent building automation today!”

Andreas Holler is also convinced that there is no way around smart buildings. “Digitalisation arrived in our working and living spaces long ago, thus it is also shaping the planning for the office and residential buildings of the future. BUWOG plans the digital infrastructure in its residential buildings right from the outset and also considers the aspect of multifunctionality. For us, the term “smart” in the planning and development of residential buildings means that uses can always be changed and adapted as required.”

According to Azra Dudakovic: “Smart living begins where human well-being and the careful use of natural resources are prioritised in the use of construction methods and technologies.”

Christian Heiss points out that “smart” is nothing new in architecture. He sees the architectural challenge as “designing intelligent, sustainable and smart living concepts that offer the highest quality of life on an ever-decreasing number of square metres. At the same time, shared areas such as multifunctional communal spaces and children’s play areas are more and more of a focus and are becoming increasingly important for social interaction.”

Sonja Hammerschmid also sees an ample amount of as yet untapped potential on the market to completely rethink and digitise processes in order to build more cost-efficiently and sustainably. Thus for her the term “smart” also includes “future-proof – i.e. sustainable – building concepts that are scalable and efficiently manufactured on the basis of serial timber construction and digital solutions.”

The next “BUWOG in Dialogue” event is planned for spring 2025.