Materialwende
Lecture series MA, winter term 25/26 (3 ECTS)
The construction sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, raw material and energy consumption. Against this backdrop, the construction turnaround represents a demand and a process that relates construction to the climate crisis, planetary boundaries and possible compliance with the 1.5 degree target. However, the construction turnaround can only succeed if it is closely and directly linked to a MATERIALWENDE. On the one hand, the substitution of mineral building materials with natural and secondary building materials is crucial for this, and on the other hand, strategies of sufficiency and resource efficiency to enable the long overdue transformation in the construction industry.
The lecture series "Materialwende" will explain, among other things, the meaning and principles of sustainable action, demonstrate alternatives to the use of mineral building materials, and teach the basics of circular design and construction. The lecture series takes place as a cooperation between the Natural Building Lab (Technical University of Berlin), the Chair of Architecture and Timber Construction (Technical University of Munich) and the Chair of Sustainable Building (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). This initiative helps to raise awareness of sustainable building methods in order to successfully implement the goals of the building turnaround.
Lectures:
Tuesday, 3:45 - 5:15 pm via Zoom
Approx. 60–75 minutes Lecture plus discussion
| 21.10.25 | Welcome and programme of the lecture series, 2 introductory lectures of 15-20 minutes each: |
| Impulse IEB / Sustainable building Prof. Dirk E. Hebel | |
| Impulse ATC / Building with wood Prof. Stephan Birk | |
| 28.10.25 | History, principles and significance of sustainable action Prof. Dirk E. Hebel (IEB) |
| 04.11.25 | Growing, harvesting, and collecting: future building materials and their construction principles TT-Prof. Florian Kaiser (KIT) |
| 11.11.25 | Clay building basics (raw material, properties, history, etc.) Prof. Eike Roswag-Klinge (TUB) |
| 18.11.25 | Clay building application (techniques, products, etc.) Julian Mönig (TUB) |
| 25.11.25 | Wood as a resource (forest development, availability, raw material, building material) Dr. Sandra Schuster (TUM) |
| 02.12.25 | Circular timber construction – Designing for reuse Prof. Stephan Birk (TUM) |
| 09.12.25 | Our garden shed – A practical report Prof. Florian Nagler (TUM) |
| 16.12.25 | AkuHops – Acoustic elements made from hop waste (Product development, upcycling, from idea to start-up) Marlene Stechl, Caecilia Halbgewachs (TUM) |
| Break at the turn of the year | |
| 13.01.26 | Single-variety construction: Method, material, construction Prof. Ludwig Wappner (KIT) |
| 20.01.26 | Digital sustainable building: Willow, clay and robots TT-Prof. Moritz Dörstelmann (KIT) |
| 27.01.26 | Urban Mining Index Prof. Dr. Anja Rosen |
| 03.02.26 | Wrap Up und Feedback Discussion round with lecturers and students |
Online Multiple Choice Test:
24.02.2026
Online lecture:
Live lecture via ZOOM (link via Moodle)
Contact:
Tabea Huth tabea.huth(at)tum.de
Alexander Lukas alexander.lukas(at)tum.de (Examination)