EU chief wants new vision for European buildings
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Europe needs a new way of using resources and should bring together design and sustainability, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen writes in an op-ed for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Referring to the architecture, art and design movement of the Bauhaus in the beginning of the 20th century, von der Leyen argues that Europe now needs a similar movement if the target of making Europe climate neutral by the middle of this century is to be accomplished. “Buildings and infrastructure are responsible for at least 40 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, modern constructions mostly use cement and steel, two materials whose production consumes an enormous amount of energy and directly releases CO2,” she writes. The project should take advantage of the ongoing “megatrend” of digitalisation with the target of “completely climate-neutral and more liveable cities”.
The European Commission officially launched the New European Bauhaus movement in October 2020 at the same time it released its renovation wave strategy for the climate-friendly modernisation of buildings. The new Bauhaus is envisioned to make the European Green Deal, the bloc’s action plan to become a clean, circular economy, more tangible with citizens. It will consist of 5 New European Bauhaus projects in different EU Member States.
