Standardized, serially manufactured components determine the high-tech architecture of the second half of the 20th century. Ignorance and lack of understanding of these components, which are present in large quantities, leads to their substitution during renovations and repairs; transferable approaches to sustainable repair and conservation are still missing. The amount of products and associated data in the technical specifications represent a huge challenge for historical and technical assessment. The product data sheets and catalogs of the recent past are now difficult to use, barely tangible and are usually only available in analogue form.

The CONSTEMO research project aims to counteract the unnecessary disposal of younger building materials. The ability to identify the individual building products efficiently and with a high degree of accuracy on site will be crucial for future conservation, repair and reuse. To do this, we will first look at windows made of steel, aluminum and PVC from buildings that were built between 1960 and 1990. IFC data generated from historical sources and 3D scans are brought together in a digital archive. For the first time, this collection will provide a comprehensive overview and understanding of windows in late modern architecture, and thus an essential basis for their sustainable conservation and reuse.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council (ERC). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.