BIM, future cities and green energy are key focuses at Ecobuild 2014

The conference will focus on topics relevant to the whole industry including developers, architects, contractors and housebuilders. Representatives from organisations such as the RIBA, BRE and IBM will take part in sessions across the three days of the event.

One session of note is Private Wealth, Public Realm: Have we got the balance right? Here, The Independent’s architecture critic, Jay Merrick, will sit down with this year’s RIBA Gold Medallist, Joseph Rykwert to answer the question: How can we think about the fabric of our cities when all decisions about them seem to be taken by speculators?
  
Other key topics include: The Ecobuild Debate – can democracy deliver sustainability?; Better homes for less – can custom build, crowd funding and mutual home ownership solve the housing crisis?; Designing for deconstruction – the next big thing? and Nature – market opportunity or legislative burden?

Attending the event is free and, as well as the conference programme, visitors will be able to explore the event’s six content zones which focus on six key issues faced by the industry today:

• Building Performance & BIM
• Refurbishment and Retrofit
• Green Energy
• Design
• Water, Waste and Materials
• Future Cities

Each content zone will feature seminar sessions, advice clinics and a host of relevant products and exhibits from industry leaders.

BIM
Building Information Modelling will be a central feature of the 2014 show, looking at the implications of a wider  BIM adoption over the next few years.

Sessions within the Building Performance and BIM seminar stream will explore methodologies, strategies and best practice in delivering comfortable, healthy, low-energy buildings which perform to design intent and operational needs. A variety of creators and end users will be on hand to provide a unique look at the technology including the Cabinet Office’s head of BIM implementation, Professor David Philp, who will be on site to provide an update of the Government’s BIM Task Group’s work.
  
DesignBuilder (N335) will be demonstrating its simulation tools designed for accurate building energy and comfort analysis by architects and engineers. Vectorworks (N438) and Stroma (N1621) will also be showcasing their latest technology at the event.

Design
The Design zone, held in association with Saint-Gobain, will look at the most effective way of delivering sustainable projects. Tackling issues surrounding lighting, materials, services and adaptation for productive environments, the seminar stream will include insights from LEAP, bere:architects and Hilson Moran.
  
Passivhaus will also be a key theme in this area, exploring both the advantages and disadvantages of Passivhaus design through a variety of case studies and advice clinics. It will also include the most effective way of meeting other energy regulations and environmental standards, including solutions for Part L and BREEAM 2014.
  
Suppliers, such as Travis Perkins (N610/11), and manufacturers, such as A Proctor Group (N440E), will be exhibiting and the area will also see displays of future materials, meaning that visitors can keep up-to-date on the latest innovations.

Future Cities
Almost half of the world’s population currently lives in cities and by 2050 that is projected to increase to 75%. Those seeking to benefit from the new market opportunities this expanding population would benefit from will be joining the discussion on what the city of the future looks like.
  
Sponsored by ACO, the Future Cities zone will feature speakers and exhibitors looking at just that. Sessions will explore the most effective ways of delivering sustainable communities, including green and blue infrastructure, transport, energy networks and smart cities technology.
  
Exhibits in this area will range from plastic flooring to living walls, conservation techniques to creators of BIM files and each display will have industry experts on hand to deliver demonstrations and answer questions.