The research institute InnoRenew CoE and University of Primorska organized the InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2023, “Interdisciplinary solutions for sustainable buildings”, which took place 13-14 September 2023, in the InnoRenew CoE building in Izola, Slovenia.

Dr. Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE director, opened the conference and welcomed attendees saying, “Sharing knowledge and experience on the use of renewable materials in the built environment from different parts of the world is essential in finding solutions to decarbonise the building stock.”

The keynote address was given by Alan Organschi, a principal and partner at Gray Organschi Architecture, an architectural practice in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and director of the Innovation Labs at the Bauhaus Earth, a global interdisciplinary initiative that seeks to transform the building sector. He spoke about creating systemic change based on natural materials: “Our problem and our challenge is buildings and construction, because the way we build is not sustainable. By using wood wisely and sustainably, we can achieve the necessary transformation of the construction sector.”

Participants could attend several presentations, during six thematic sessions about sustainable solutions for environmental impacts, recycling, and design optimization; New European Bauhaus (co-design, solutions, aesthetics); engineered living materials, sustainable construction and sustainable buildings, knowledge transfer, social impacts, and human health and preferences; and interdisciplinary topics for sustainable buildings.

Additionally, a workshop with technical providers and other stakeholders about lessons learned in the Pharaon project was prepared.

The conference, sponsored by Rothoblaas, concluded with a discussion on Micro-credentials within the New European Bauhaus Academy Pioneer Hub for Sustainable Built Environments with Renewable Materials (NEBAP Hub).

The NEBAP Hub was established by the University of Primorska as part of the Green, Digital and Inclusive University of Primorska project funded by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the European Union – NextGenerationEU.