By Wojciech Brożyna - MD Aluprof UK
Leading Aluminium Systems Company, Aluprof, recently held their fifth bi-annual Future Builders International Conference in Poland to great acclaim. Members of the Aluprof UK & Ireland team and their guests attended the event which took place on 16th October at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Warsaw.
The diverse panel assembled for the event featured not only distinguished architects but also prominent experts from the construction sector, including engineers, urban planners, specialists in sustainable building, and sociologists focused on spatial dynamics. Their discussions centred on the future trajectory of the Global Construction Industry and the necessary directions for its development. The event was designed to be inclusive, allowing a wide array of participants from the construction field to engage actively by posing questions or sharing their insights. To reach the widest audience, the event was streamed online, ensuring that those unable to attend in person could still partake in the proceedings.
The panel debated the future of architecture in the context of sustainable building. The discussions also embraced the challenges facing the sector and an analysis of trends in architecture, encompassing the direction of travel in the development of our cities and towns. Acclaimed figures among the panellists this year included José Pareja Gómez of the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects and Ian Bogle, the founder of the multiple award-winning architecture and design studio Bogle Architects, along with leading Polish Architects.
This year's Future Builders international conference featured three panel discussions that showcased prominent architects and various experts as panellists. The event also included a presentation of the winner of the 2022 Building of the Year Created with ALUPROF Systems competition, as well as a discussion on an innovative development utilising architectural aluminium systems by ALUPROF. The first panel, entitled "Sustainability in Architecture: A Genuine Necessity or Just a Trend?", was moderated by Paweł Gregorczyk, the brands communication manager at ALUPROF, alongside Wojciech S. Wocław, a trainer in business etiquette and public speaking. During this session, the panellists engaged in a comprehensive discussion on various subjects, focusing on how modern technologies can assist architects and designers in addressing climate change and striving for a sustainable future. They also exchanged insights from their respective countries, highlighting the systemic solutions being adopted within those contexts.
The second panel at the Future Builders conference, entitled New or ReNEWed: Revitalising Buildings as the Future of Architecture, focused on the increasingly relevant topic of building renovation, a trend that has gained traction in recent years, largely due to the European Union decarbonisation initiatives. Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys, in her presentation, highlighted that whether engaging in the renovation of existing buildings or the construction of new ones, an endeavour that remains essential is our efforts being rooted in sustainable development. The panellists collectively emphasised the critical importance of achieving a harmonious balance between new projects and renovated buildings, whilst also aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of the Construction Industry.
The third session of the conference showcased the esteemed architect Professor Ewa Kuryłowicz, affiliated with the prestigious Kuryłowicz & Associates studio. She delivered a presentation on the Faculty of Modern Languages and Institute of Applied Linguistics building at Warsaw University, which was awarded the Grand Prix in the fourth edition of the Building of the Year Created with Aluprof Systems competition in 2022. In her case study, she explored the innovative solutions implemented in this notable construction project, one of the most remarkable in Poland in recent years, whilst also discussing the various challenges her studio faced during the conceptual development of the building.
Following the third session a panel discussion entitled "Is a Decade in Architecture Long Enough?" took place offering the audience an opportunity to engage in the conversation. This debate was organised to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Building of the Year Created with ALUPROF Systems competition and featured a panel of previous winners. The panellists unanimously expressed that the designs they had developed for their award-winning projects would remain unchanged today. Nonetheless, they acknowledged that the significant advancements in building technology over the last decade would enable them to incorporate even more sustainable solutions.
In what has now become a tradition, the Future Builders conference culminated in a gala where the winners of the international Building of the Year Created with Aluprof Systems competition were announced. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the initiative, which was conceived for architectural practices and independent architects and designed to single out the most interesting buildings featuring aluminium solutions by Aluprof. The winners award went to Maćków Pracownia Projektowa for Bernardyńska 4, a residential and retail complex in Wrocław, Poland. In the global category, third place winner went to the Sheppard Robson Architects project, 68-86 Farringdon Road, London which was featuring Aluprof’s MB-70HI , MB-77HS window door systems and MB-SR50N curtain walls that are fabricated by Alu-Fix Facades.
Aluprof UK have been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include, high performance windows doors and facade systems. Many UK and Ireland based fabricators and installers supply these systems and are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made with likely paybacks. Further information about systems and specification support is available through the company website at https://aluprof.com/gb or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005.
