Professur Nachhaltiges Bauen / Sustainable Construction

The construction sector contributes significantly worldwide to global greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, raw material consumption, and energy use. Against this backdrop, the construction transition represents both a demand and a process that places building practices in relation to the climate crisis, planetary boundaries and the potential achievement of the 1.5-degree target. However, this transition in construction can only succeed if it is closely and directly linked to a material transition.

On the one hand, the substitution of mineral-based building materials with natural and secondary materials is crucial; on the other hand, strategies of sufficiency and resource efficiency are essential to enable the long-overdue transformation of the construction industry.

The lecture series “Material Transition” explores, among other things, the significance and principles of sustainable practices, presents alternatives to the use of mineral-based materials, and conveys the fundamentals of circular design and construction. The series is a collaboration between the Natural Building Lab (Technical University of Berlin), the Chair of Architecture and Timber Construction (Technical University of Munich), and the Institute for Design and Building Technology (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), under the direction of the Professorship for Sustainable Construction. This initiative contributes to raising awareness of sustainable building methods and successfully implementing the goals of the construction transition.

Tuesdays 15:45-17:15 h via ZOOM

The lecture series presents and discusses the basics and considerations of sustainable building. On the one hand the importance of the topic in its historical dimension and on the other hand its relevance for future building tasks will be highlighted. The focus is on the question of the sensible and ethically justifiable use of natural resources in construction. The concept of sustainability is discussed in its ecological, economic, sociological and aesthetic dimensions specifically for future construction tasks. Students are to be enabled to reflect independently and critically on the topics described and to integrate them into their design tasks.

Wednesdays, 9:45-11:15 am
Bldg. 20.40, Fritz-Haller-Hörsaal (ground floor)
First meeting: 29.10.25
Submission/Exam: 04.03.26

The lecture series provides an overview of the origin or production as well as the specific properties and application possibilities of the most important building materials. Aspects of the sensible use of the materials, resistance and protective measures, advantages and disadvantages compared to other building materials, as well as examples of outstanding applications in historical and contemporary buildings are presented. In addition to well-known and widely used building materials, new and alternative materials and their research are discussed. The students should be taught a respectful and sustainable understanding of materials, whereby the knowledge of the specific characteristics and possible applications of the materials should naturally be incorporated into the design planning.

Fridays, 9:45-1:00 am
Bldg. 20.40, Egon-Eiermann-Hörsaal 
First meeting: 31.10.2025
Submission/Exam: Friday, 27.02.2026

The integration of 100 % biological insulation materials in circular construction systems is one example for forward-looking solutions for resource-efficient architectures. Currently, the most commonly used insulation materials consist of synthetic or mineral raw materials as well as biobased-synthetic mixtures that cannot be returned to the biological cycle. In contrast to this, the use of biological single-variety insulation materials in combination with reversible construction techniques enables a complete return of the insulations to the biological cycle or a further use in other construction systems. 

A part of the research at the Professorship of Sustainable Construction at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is concerned with resource-conserving use of materials and circular construction principles, which enable dismantling and reuse of the building materials. 100 % biological insulation materials in combination with a reversible construction can be part of climate protection, through the reuse of the insulation materials (saving of primary building materials), a corresponding reduction of primary resources and the reduction of CO₂ emissions through the mostly low-energy production of the biological products.At the BAU 2025 trade fair in Munich Daniela Schneider and Sandra Böhm gave a presentation regarding their current research results and practical applications of these concepts.

In the Winter Semester 2024/25, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the Professorship of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. The lecture will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Please refer to the poster for speakers and actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 9.45 am in the lecture hall Fritz-Haller in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2024/25, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. The lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Please refer to the poster for speakers and actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 9.45 am at the lecture hall Fritz-Haller in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2023/24, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total, 11 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Sandra Böhm, Prof. Andrea Klinge, Peter Schöffel, Nazanin Saeidi, Alireza Javadian and Elena Boerman. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 9.45 am at the lecture hall Fritz-Haller in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2023/24, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the Professorship of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 12 lectures he will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 9.45 am in the lecture hall Fritz-Haller in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2022/23, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 11 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Andrea Klinge, Kay Sanvito, Peter Schöffel, Nazanin Saeidi, Alireza Javadian, Elena Boerman and Sandra Böhm. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 9.45 am at the Egon Eiermann HS in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2022/23, the KIT Department of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the Professorship of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 12 lectures he will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 9.45 am in the HS37 in the building 20.40 at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2020/21, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the Professorship of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 12 lectures will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Speakers are: Daniela Schneider, Prof. Daniel Fuhrhop, Prof. Andreas Wagner, Prof. Matthias Pfeifer, Prof. Markus Neppl, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 10:00 am online.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2020/21, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 11 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Andrea Klinge, Nazanin Saeidi, Peter Schöffel, Geoffrey Leitner, Alireza Javadian and Sandra Böhm. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 2 pm at the Forum at KIT Campus South.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2019/20, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 13 lectures will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Speakers are: Felix Heisel, Daniela Schneider, Prof. Daniel Fuhrhop, Prof. Andreas Wagner, Prof. Matthias Pfeifer, Prof. Markus Neppl, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 09:45 am in Lecture Hall 9 (HS09) at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2010/20, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 11 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Sandra Böhm, Dietmar Müller, Peter Schöffel, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 09:45am in Lecture Hall Egon-Eiermann at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2018/19, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 14 lectures will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Speakers are: Michael Dax, Felix Heisel, Dörte Meinerling, Daniel Fuhrhop, Roland Hischier, Prof. Andreas Wagner, Prof. Matthias Pfeifer, Prof. Petra v. Both, Prof. Markus Neppl, Jan Wurm, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 09:45 am in Lecture Hall 9 (HS09) at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

In the Winter Semester 2018/19, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 13 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Sandra Böhm, Waltraud Vogler, Peter Schöffel, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Friday, 09:45am in Lecture Hall Egon-Eiermann at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

Starting in the Winter Semester 2017/18, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Materials, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 13 lectures will address conventional and alternative building materials and their use in construction. Speakers are: Sandra Böhm, Wayne Switzer, Karsten Schlesier, Andreas Mägerlein, Felix Heisel, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held everyFriday, 09:45am in Lecture Hall Egon-Eiermann at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder

Starting in the Fall Semester 2017/18, the KIT Faculty of Architecture will offer a lecture series on Sustainable Construction, organized by the chair of Sustainable Construction, Dirk E. Hebel. In total 14 lectures will address the history, state of the art, and alternative futures within the theme. Speakers are: Michael Dax, Daniel Fuhrhop, Monika Goebel, Prof. Petra v. Both, Felix Heisel, Prof. Andreas Wagner, Prof. Matthias Pfeifer, Prof. Thomas Lützkendorf, Jan Wurm, and Prof. Dirk E. Hebel. Please refer to the poster for actual dates. The lecture is held every Wednesday, 09:45 am in Lecture Hall 9 (HS09) at KIT Campus South, Building 20.40.

Poster Design: Uta Bogenrieder