{"id":181846,"date":"2025-12-13T02:16:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T02:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/181846\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T02:16:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T02:16:21","slug":"fragile-by-design-can-buildings-learn-to-bend-without-breaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/181846\/","title":{"rendered":"Fragile by Design: Can Buildings Learn to Bend Without Breaking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fragile<\/a>\u00a9 Nieuwe Instituut<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/www.archdaily.com\/1036635\/fragile-by-design-can-buildings-learn-to-bend-without-breaking<\/p>\n

Where cities were once shaped by simple structures that could adapt to new uses, they are now packed with rigid dwellings\u2014often designed with a single use in mind and fixed in both layout and lifespan. As climate deadlines tighten, communities demand more resilient, resource-conscious spaces, and work and living patterns continue to shift, this rigidity is becoming a liability. When buildings<\/a> refuse to bend, they are often treated as disposable, triggering cycles of demolition, downtime, and loss. Adaptability<\/a>, once considered an added convenience, is becoming an imperative\u2014something the inaugural Adaptable Building Conference (ABC)<\/a> in Rotterdam aims to put front and center.<\/p>\n

Why Cities<\/a> Can’t Afford Static Buildings<\/p>\n

For C\u00e9cile Faraud, clean construction program manager at C40 Cities\u2014a global network of mayors driving the future of city climate action\u2014and a speaker at ABC, the urgency is clear. “We rely on buildings<\/a> daily\u2014they’re our homes, offices, schools, hospitals\u2014but they also significantly drive the climate crisis,” she says. The statistics on the subject are well known: concrete alone contributes at least 8 percent of global emissions, consumes scarce raw materials and vast quantities of water, and reinforces the impermeable, heat-trapping qualities of urban areas. With an additional 2.5 billion people expected to live in cities by 2050, this impact will only grow unless existing buildings are used far more intelligently. “Local governments must tackle this complex issue now,” Faraud says, adding that the priority must be to maximize the use of existing buildings, especially when they are underutilized or vacant. <\/p>\n

\"FragileOne of the many empty and idling office buildings that are spread across our cities. With their design and infrastructure being outdated, and only cost-intensive ways of change, they wait idling for their demolition, wasting space and resources. Image \u00a9 Sergei Wing<\/a>Adaptability and Circularity: Two Sides of the Same Agenda<\/p>\n

Circularity is often mistakenly equated with recycling, but Faraud argues that it begins much earlier, by “rethinking how we use stuff, including our buildings<\/a>. The first actions are to reduce and reuse. Adaptable buildings provide an excellent solution to both.” They sidestep the embodied emissions of new construction and raw material waste. By using what already exists, says Faraud, adaptable buildings can “serve changing needs while retaining identity, heritage and community bonds.”<\/p>\n

\"FragileThe soon to be launched flexible wall system \u201cPanels\u201d by Knauf will set a new benchmark on how buildings can adapt and evolve over time without wasting materials. All components of the system can be reused, either directly on site or across other buildings. Image \u00a9 Knauf Panels \/ Niklas Vindelev<\/a>What Cities<\/a> Can Do Now<\/p>\n

What practical measures can cities take to encourage developers and designers to build more flexible, low-carbon structures? Faraud advises setting clear visions and targets, leading by example in procurement, tightening planning and building rules where possible, and using softer tools such as convening stakeholders, supporting training, publishing guidance, showcasing flagship projects, and shaping incentives to build momentum through encouragement and expectation.<\/p>\n

\"FragileThe refurbishment of Mute\u2019s headquarter in Warsaw, Poland. Together with the landlord, the company decided to leave all existing infrastructure in place, and use their modular room-in-room solution to create various spaces for meetings, inspiration and focus work. By being completely independent from their surroundings, the space plan can be easily adapted over time. Image \u00a9 Mute Modular<\/a>Rethink What Buildings Are For<\/p>\n

If buildings<\/a> continue to be conceived as static, single-purpose structures, cities will remain trapped in a cycle of obsolescence and replacement. Adaptability<\/a> offers another trajectory: buildings as evolving frameworks. The challenge is significant, but the opportunity is greater. With the right tools, incentives, and collaborations, buildings can learn to change as quickly as the world around them.<\/p>\n

\"FragileThe level of adaptability is highly influenced by the building\u2019s overall design. CREE\u2019s building system, developed by Hubert Rhomberg, treats buildings as frameworks for life\u2014allowing their infill to change and evolve over time thanks to responsive infrastructure (heating, cooling, ventilation) as well as timeless floor and ceiling structures. Image \u00a9 CREE Buildings<\/a> <\/p>\n

While there are many strong efforts across the value chain, fragmentation and siloed approaches remain the norm. As a result, we’re still not acting at the pace and scale a sector like this demands, where everyone needs to shoulder their share of responsibility. The more we document what’s already happening at the city and industry levels\u2014and the cost of inaction\u2014the more we can build the collaborations needed on the ground. Initiatives like the Adaptable Building Conference (ABC)<\/a> offer such an opportunity.\u2014C\u00e9cile Faraud<\/p>\n

\"FragileMute Modular in Aleph Alpha office, Heidelberg. Image \u00a9 Mute Modular<\/a><\/p>\n

The inaugural Adaptable Building Conference\u00a0will focus on offices\u2014perhaps the building typology under the greatest pressure to adapt, whether to a new layout or an entirely new function. Speakers will include Steven Paynter (Gensler) on conversion feasibility; Paco Bunnik (City of Amsterdam) on municipal levers; Martine Gr\u00fcndemann (Zadelhoff) on the developer perspective; and Hubert Rhomberg (CREE) on industrialized timber\u2013hybrid systems. The event will also introduce the Adaptable Building Certificate, designed to help specify adaptability and demonstrate performance over time.<\/p>\n

Register now to join the Adaptable Building Conference and shape the future of adaptive architecture\u2014book here<\/a>.<\/p>\n