Wood4Bauhaus’s first virtual conference  “The New European Bauhaus: How can the wood sector engage, contribute and co-create?”, organized by the newly constituted Wood Sector Alliance for the New European Bauhaus, took place on 8 April 2021.

Dr Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE director, moderated the first two sessions.

“I invite you to stand together against climate change and use timber in sustainable solutions for our built environment,” Dr Kutnar said in her welcoming words.

“I am convinced building with timber is the best way to sustainably transform the built environment. Timber solutions are cost competitive and bring aesthetic and health benefits to buildings. However, collaboration across disciplines and across Europe is needed,” she added.

Dr Andreja Kutnar at the Wood4Bauhaus conference. Image: Lea Primožič

The conference brought together a diverse audience of more than 1200 entrepreneurs, designers and other civil society representatives from around the globe.

The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, who has recently been named as an ambassador to the New European Bauhaus High-level Roundtable. He shared a powerful climate change message about enhancing the use of more wood in the built environment under the title “Reforest our planet, retimber our cities”.

Following him was the talk of Mrs Ruth Reichstein, who is responsible for the development of the New European Bauhaus at the European Commission. She highlighted the need for more climate-friendly materials, such as wood, in both new buildings and renovations.

Dr Andreja Kutnar with Professor Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber and Ruth Reichstein. Image: Lea Primožič

The conference speakers raised awareness about the transformative power of the circular economy and explained the important role that innovative wood products and building systems can play in it. They also discussed how the wood sector can and should engage in the New European Bauhaus.