The 2011 edition of BAU welcomed approximately 238,000 attendees from all over the world 12% more than in 2009. The trade fair, held in Munich, 17-22 January, featured 16 separate buildings with disp…
The 2011 edition of BAU welcomed approximately 238,000 attendees from all over the world 12% more than in 2009. The trade fair, held in Munich, 17-22 January, featured 16 separate buildings with displays focused on architecture, building materials and systems for industrial, commercial and residential construction, as well as for interior work. Under the theme of sustainability, the organization featured a special exhibition dedicated to the green envelope, specifically regarding windows, faades and doors. In terms of international participation, almost 60,000 visitors to BAU 2011 came from outside Germany. This boosted the proportion of foreign visitors to 25%, up from 18% in 2009. There was also a further increase in the proportion of planners and architects attending the fair 22% this year more than 52,000 trade visitors from this segment alone. Visitors to BAU 2011 travelled to Munich from over 150 different countries of origin. From almost all the countries there was a significant increase in the number of visitors. After Germany, the countries from which most trade visitors came were Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, France and Great Britain. Particularly noticeable, too, was the strong rise in numbers from countries outside Europe for example, India, Japan, the US, Canada and the United Arab Emirates doubling in some cases. One whole year before BAU 2011 actually opened its doors, the event was almost fully booked, and many companies only made it to the waiting list. 2,058 exhibitors from 46 countries showcased their products and solutions on 180,000 sq.m. of exhibition space. BAU improved not only in terms of quantity it also delivered the proof that it is an unmissable event for building experts from all over the world, from planners and architects to the individual building trades: as an information and communication forum, especially as a showcase for new developments and innovations mapping out the future of building, and also as a business platform where specifics are negotiated and agreed. Positive comments were also echoed by the findings of a survey conducted at the event by opinion pollsters TNS Infratest. According to this survey, 96% of the visitors to BAU found the event excellent to good“, and 97% said they would come back again. As on the visitor side, exhibitors were also significantly more optimistic this time than last time about the economic situation in the sector, with 85% of them hopeful about the future. The top themes at BAU this year were sustainable building and building for life. On both themes there were special shows and lectures in the forums and congresses, for example, in the congress entitled Building for the Future sustainable, energy-efficient and innovative“, organized by the German Federal Ministry of Building and in the Buildings of the Future“ events series organized by the German Federal Ministry of Economics. The solar house, designed by the University of Applied Sciences of Rosenheim, which won second place in the Solar Decathlon competition in Madrid, was erected at BAU and presented to a wide trade audience for the first time. BAU also included three forums: the Future of Building Forum“, where international architects such as Sir Peter Cook and Franoise Hlne Jourda presented their plans and projects; Forum MacroArchitecture“, about the cooperation between architecture and industry on the one hand and future research in architecture on the other; and the Intelligent Building Forum“, which from renovation and modernization projects, through to the construction of modern high-tech buildings such as passive houses and energy-plus houses. The German Ministry of Building presented corresponding projects in its Future of Building“ research initiative. Once again, BAU was the platform for many award presentations, such as the architectural awards for Aesthetics and Construction“ in cooperation with the journal DETAIL, and the Bauwelt Prize for The First Work“, in cooperation with the journal Bauwelt. Other awards presented at BAU were: The award Built on IT Building jobs with a future“ Award for Product Innovations Award for Innovation in Architecture and Building Building Material Oscars BAU 2011 also marked the official launch of the ArchiWorld Academy a new competition organized by BAU in cooperation with the online portal Archi-Europe. The competition runs over a period of two years and is directed at architecture students from all over the world. Twelve top international architects will form the jury. The winners, who will be awarded with a traineeship in the offices of the top architects, will be announced at BAU 2013. The Long Night of Architecture“, which was held for the first time in conjunction with BAU, was open to all participants in BAU, as well as to interested citizens of Munich. Over 30 buildings in and around the city of Munich opened their doors on Friday evening for people to come in, look around and find out. Attendance was good throughout, with free shuttle buses running between the different places between 19.00 and midnight. The 20th BAU will take place 14-19 January 2013, at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre