BAU Insights’ Post

This is Oslo in 2009 and 2024. In 2009 - Highways and concrete dominated the landscape, with cars taking center stage. Fast forward 15 years: ↓ 🔹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 - That same street has transformed into a green haven with trees, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly spaces. Meanwhile, Oslo achieved several milestones: 🔹 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵: Earned the title of European Green Capital, leading the way in sustainability. 🔹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮: Ranked #1 in the Sustainable Cities Index, showing its global leadership in urban innovation. A truly transformative change. Source: HologramHax _ _ _ 👍 Like if you find value, re-post ♻️, and follow for more interesting tech, and innovation insights

Well, you already know it - Desire an Irresistible Circular Society ended last Saturday, November the 30th. It has been a bit more than 2 years of incredible co-creations, experimentations, demonstrations, reflections, discussions, evaluations and learnings. It feels a bit sad… 😥 But we are still a community, we are still part of a much bigger community of NEB lighthouse projects and of the New European Bauhaus - we all have the same dreams, the same wishes, although we do things differently. 👉 Last week, the coordinators of the first six New European Bauhaus lighthouse projects met in Lisbon to talk about what comes beyond - replicability, implementation, scaling. Desire is the first of the six projects to finish. We have so much to share, so many learnings, insights, results and plans for the future. It was reassuring to learn that there is a keen interest from the other projects to follow what comes beyond Desire and to keep us on the loop for sharing and exchanging learnings. ✨ Therefore, it is fair to say that although Desire an Irresistible Circular Society as a project has come to an end, the movement hasn’t. Desire took off based on a vision about creating a movement for urban transformation within the planetary boundaries, embedded in hope and irresistibility. 🌲 Being part of a much bigger movement, the New European Bauhaus, we will continue to support the Desire ambition by meeting, sharing, discussing, reflecting and evolving through the Irresistible Cities Lab, a community of practitioners for city-makers. 👋 So, meet us there - and stay tuned at the website for updates on activities... BLOXHUB Hanne Kokkegaard NEB-STAR NEBourhoods - New European Bauhaus Lighthouse Amanda Brandellero Bauhaus of the Seas Sails Eyes Hearts Hands 👁❤️🖐CrAft - Creating Actionable Futures

☀️ Should historic buildings embrace solar power ...or stick to tradition? 🏛️ Europe’s landmarks are going green, but not everyone's convinced. Solar panels have already been integrated into heritage sites including: • Guggenheim Museum: 300 panels blended seamlessly into its design • Pompeii Archaeological Park: Solar panels disguised as terracotta tiles in old city • Chippenham Hall: Ground-mounted panels preserving aesthetics But projects like King’s College Chapel have faced criticism for altering the appearance of the building from the street. This is likely to become even more common. City councils around Europe have started loosening restrictions around installing solar panels on historical sites. 🇳🇱 In June, Amsterdam announced that solar panels in full view will be permitted on protected buildings and monuments by 2025. Is it time we focus more on protecting the future than preserving the past? What do you think? _____ ➕ Follow Abbie Morris for posts about sustainability, policy, and startups. 📧 Drop me a DM if you want to learn more about tackling the mountain of sustainability regulation facing the retail industry.

We’re excited to announce the release of the 1st issue of the Pro-Green Labs Newsletter! This edition highlights our recent activities, including the benchmarking visit to Politecnico di Milano, key project milestones, and upcoming plans for sustainable urban development and energy innovation. It’s your go-to source for staying updated on all things Pro-Green Labs! Read it now and join us in advancing sustainability and innovation: https://lnkd.in/djCzJjGi #ProGreenLabs #Sustainability #Innovation #Newsletter #UrbanDevelopment

#SundaySeries: Dive deep and Invitation to your company - New European Bauhaus Economy This week, we're exploring the "New European Bauhaus Economy" paper, which offers a transformative vision for our built environment. Here are key takeaways and opportunities for organizations across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: 1. Urgent systemic change: Our current path is unsustainable. It's time to reimagine how we build, live, and work in our cities and regions. 2. Value shift: As material resources become constrained, focus on creating value through services, care, and collective intelligence. This opens new business models and innovation opportunities. 3. Circular imperative: With global circularity at just 7.2%, there's immense potential in circular construction and resource management. Companies can lead this transition and gain a competitive edge. 4. Nature-based solutions: Integrating green infrastructure into urban spaces offers multiple benefits - from temperature regulation to flood management. Developers and city planners, take note! 5. Innovative finance: Financial institutions can develop new instruments that account for ecological services and collective health benefits, unlocking funding for sustainable projects. 6. Sharing economy: Urban planners and developers can explore community-centered designs that optimize resource use, creating more resilient and connected neighborhoods. 7. Skills transformation: Educational institutions and businesses must collaborate to prepare the workforce for emerging roles in bio-design, circular economy, and regenerative practices. This paper offers a roadmap for innovation across sectors. How can your organization adapt these ideas to lead the way in creating a regenerative built environment? Let's discuss in the comments! #CircularEconomy #RegenerativeDesign #UrbanPlanning

Well, well, well. Seems like the EU's caught up to what some of us have been shouting about for years. For over a decade, I've witnessed the power of design to drive systemic change. This paper elevates that potential, urging us to redesign not just products, but entire socio-economic systems. New European Bauhaus Economy? More like "Things Designers Have Been Saying While You Weren't Listening." Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. As a designer who's been pushing circular economy principles since before it was cool, it's nice to see the policy makers finally getting on board. But let's be real: we've got a long way to go from great papers to great cities and this paper raises few critical questions: 1. How do we reconcile rapid innovation with the need for long-lasting, sustainable solutions? 2. Can we shift societal values quickly enough to meet urgent environmental deadlines? 3. What role will AI and emerging technologies play in this transformation? My favorite bit? The shift to "immaterial value." Imagine telling that to your client who wants another shiny, wasteful brochure. Joking aside (or am I?), this is our chance to redesign not just stuff, but systems. As we navigate this transition, designers must be at the forefront, translating abstract concepts into tangible realities. The challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity. #CircularEconomy #Design #NewEuropeanBauhaus

How is Ülemiste Center utilising artificial intelligence - AI? 🧐 According to customers, Ülemiste Center is considered the most environmentally friendly and sustainable shopping centre in Tallinn and Harju County. If asked, has it been easy to reach this position? Definitely not.  Since 2012, the Ülemiste Center has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80 per cent per square meter. Ülemiste achieved this result through significant investment in energy efficiency in both construction and building management. Most of the changes were implemented already during the renovation and extension of the centre in 2014. According to Tiia Nõmm, the Head of Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at Ülemiste, the owners at Linstow provide the direction and impetus to invest in sustainability. "Management can give advice, but significant strategic decisions require substantial investments and thus need the owners' belief and correlation with their values," said Tiia Ülemiste Center proudly holds the BREEAM certification as the first building in Estonia and the first shopping centre in the Baltic States. 🎉 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. BREEAM and BREEAM In-Use certificates evaluate the management of different categories, for example : - Health and Wellbeing - Energy - Transport - Water - Land use and ecology Each one of them requires focus and development. For example, since 2023, Ülemiste has had beehives on the rooftop to help boost urban biodiversity. We have also implemented artificial intelligence to manage the indoor climate. The AI optimises energy consumption in small increments while ensuring the building isn't too cold or hot. "Engaging people, getting closer to them, seeing different perspectives is important. Sustainability is not always a popular topic because it is believed that people have to change their current habits quickly and drastically. Rather, it's important to do something a little different or not do something, and the cumulative effect of all our small changes adds up to be very large." What do you think of the green initiative at Ülemiste Center? Let us know in the comments #ülemistekeskus #environment #sustainability

💨 As soon as I saw this post yesterday I sought to share it. It takes me a while. Just before I was going to post I lost the whole thing. Taking a deep breath I was going to reconstruct in 30 minutes. Life took over. Hopefully this is not too late ... ⚡ Knowing my profile and reading below you will understand why I was excited! ❣️ It seems that when Tom Bosschaert speaks he will be talking about many of the things I deeply care about. 🏞️ It is interesting to me how people can 'graduate' to similar positions from 'different' backgrounds. Tom Bosschaert may say he was only 19 when he began. At the time he had not yet finished his training; and that was fundamentally in a design field. 🧬 My own background is in science and #systemic thinking. When did that begin? Formally at around the same age as Tom. Informally much younger. And my 'design training' also began before I was 8; can't exactly remember how young! 🧒🏼 What am I saying in all this? Fundamentally I believe, those of us who appear to have a holistic vision of 'how things work', I am looking forward to meeting Tom but have not yet done so, seem to have been influenced along those lines from early developmental experiences, whatever the so-called 'discipline'. 📚 My own perspective is that so long as we maintain the perspective of being life-long learners, again one of those caveats I claimed long before it was 'fashionable' to do so just because it is authentically me, we may come to an understanding of matters that are similar to those of people from very different disciplines. 🫶 The 'beauty' of our different backgrounds is that we can each bring fresh perspectives on each others work so through our joint #connections the effectiveness of the work will grow. This is surely the iterative wisdom of #Nature where everything works in harmony? 🌳 In today's world where #regeneration is SO needed, surely every and any way we can work together to achieve #regeneration more effectively we should take. What do you think? #regeneration #systemic thinking #food #Nature #connection

\*\*"Social Developments and Sustainability: Innovative Strategies for Enhancing Community Well-Being"\*\* - ### Introduction In today's world, sustainability and social developments are critical issues facing communities across the globe. Sustainable progress requires an integrated interaction between innovation, technology, and community engagement to ensure development that balances environmental preservation and improving quality of life. Hence, there is an increasing focus on exploring and testing new strategies aimed at addressing the multiple aspects of these issues. This article presents a range of topics that shed light on social and environmental innovations, such as smart city design, sustainable nutrition, and promoting blended education, along with highlighting inspiring case studies that reflect the successes and challenges associated with implementing these solutions. Each of these topics is not just a theoretical concept, but an actual experience that illustrates the importance of teamwork and the necessity of achieving the desired balance in a rapidly changing world. ## Innovation in Smart City Design Smart cities embody innovation and technology in enhancing quality of life. Smart city design includes the use of big data, the Internet of Things, and big analytics to enhance the efficiency of services provided by the city. Smart systems are utilized in traffic management, energy conservation, and air quality improvement. For instance, the city of Barcelona exemplifies a remarkable model, having employed live tracking technologies for car and pedestrian movements to reduce congestion, leading to decreased carbon emissions and improved overall quality of life. However, challenges are not limited to the technical aspect; these cities must also consider levels of social interaction and inclusivity. Technology should not isolate city residents but should contribute to their engagement and improve their daily experiences. Therefore, involving the local community in the planning process is crucial to ensure that it meets the needs of the city's inhabitants and fosters a sense of belonging. ## Sustainable Nutrition Issues of sustainable nutrition continuously evolve, focusing on food production methods that preserve the environment and reduce waste. This topic includes organic food farming, reducing pesticide use, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Urban farms, which involve farming in urban spaces like rooftops and public gardens, present a tangible example of how urban agriculture can be integrated into urban development plans. One of the standout examples is the “EarthWay” project in Italy, which leverages smart agriculture techniques such as vertical farming and smart irrigation. This initiative not only helps to reduce the food gap but also raises awareness of public health and community nutrition. Efforts include educating the community about the benefits of local and organic products, contributing to improved ...

✳️ This week in London Thursday 24th and Friday 25th Oct - is taking place the #Freskival you've all been waiting for to #broaden your horizons and help come up with #solutions to the environmental challenges we need to address. ⁉️ What is it? It's a 2-day festival for #professionals to try out #Fresk-style #sustainability workshops on different themes: #Biodiversity, #Construction, #Textiles, #Digital, #Food, #CircularEconomy, and more. Sample a few, meet other interested people, and find a workshop that's a good fit for your organisation's #engagement and learning strategy. 🥰 Open to #everyone within an #organisation in any #industry that is keen to join the growing #movement of #employees ready to take action, it is your opportunity. 💪 A myriad of subjects are on offer, whatever your level of #knowledge, #experience in sustainability may be. We all have #topics that interest us in relation to our #planet. 🌎 Choose between: - Climate Fresk - the number one workshop. - Biodiversity Collage UK - understanding the nature crisis. - Circular Economy Collage - introduction to circularity. - Digital Collage - the sector that is heading in the wrong direction. - Agri'Food Collage - discussing the food system. - Conscious Evolution Collage - unpicking the root of meta-unsustainability. - Designing our Low Carbon Lives - design feasible, desirable actions. - Planetary Boundaries Fresco - get the whole picture. - Construction Collage - get behind the impact of the built environment. - Adaptation to climate change - mitigation is only half the story, let's discuss adaptation and risk. - Textiles UnTangled - learn about the impacts and options for the clothes we wear. More details and #registration in the link 👇 And share the love by tagging people in the #comments! The event will take place at Toast Brewery on 24th/25th October 2024. The Good Company Organised by Business Declares and Climate Clarity. 👏 DecarbonEaser will be glad to deliver the Construction Collage 🏗️ #netzerofestival Julia H Giannini MSc Ash Goddard