• Around 80 architects held discussions with experts from BASF
• BASF presented a broad portfolio for the future of construction
• Innovative solutions and analytical tools for sustainable construction

 What are the materials of the future? Does the scarcity of resources present an opportunity for new technologies? And how can sustainability and design be combined? These questions, among others, occupied the participants of the “Planning for the future” workshop on 17 November at BASF Ludwigshafen.

“For architects, BASF is a crucial partner for sustainable construction. On the basis of our advanced chemistry, we are able to offer leading-edge products for a wide variety of construction areas, giving our customers an economic and at the same time ecological advantage as well as offering maximum design freedom”, explained Philipp Kley, Senior Vice President Construction Chemicals Europe at BASF. “With our construction products, you can save costs, energy, and resources, as well as prevent CO₂ emissions and improve the durability of buildings. Certified analytical tools make it possible to measure the ecological benefit”, said Kley.

Possible applications for the BASF construction products are demonstrated in a miniature model house

Creative Exchange of Ideas 
Around 80 architects from the Mannheim, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart area talked to BASF experts about the future of construction. Among other subjects, the participants discussed which BASF products can support architects with regard to sustainability and design freedom and which innovations are urgently needed.

Food for thought was supplied by guest speakers Werner Frosch, from the firm Henning Larsen Architects, on the topic of “Mission: Sustainability” and Christian Heuchel, from Ortner & Ortner, who focused on the topic of “Resource Architecture”.

In his speech, Dirk Voeste, Vice President of Sustainability Strategy, emphasised the role of sustainability at BASF.

Broad Portfolio for Sustainable Building 
Experts from BASF gave an overview of the company’s broad range of construction products, which includes insulating materials, flooring systems, decorative paints, concrete admixtures, products for concrete maintenance, and tile glues. A selection of products was presented in more detail:

With the polypropylene fibres from MasterFiber^®, BASF provides an alternative to concrete reinforcement. The rust-free fibres almost completely replace the steel reinforcement in industrial flooring and open spaces, for example. The high-performance fibres can be used to manufacture strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC). These building materials enable the design of very delicate and long-lasting components. The fibres can also be used in facade elements and slender precast concrete elements. The synthetic fibres from Master Builders Solutions^® guarantee long-lasting, cost-effective, and safe solutions.

The seamless MasterTop flooring systems are characterised by the way they combine functionality with comfort and design, and are particularly durable. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) are available for the majority of MasterTop products. BASF was the first manufacturer of floor coating systems based on epoxy and polyurethane resins with published EPDs. These include environmental information about the product as well as its impact on the environment.

The innovative high-performance insulation material SLENTITE^® is currently in the market preparation phase and, with a lambda value of <17 mW/(m/K), it achieves the best-ever insulation performance for a solid panel. It guarantees insulation that is between 25 % and 50 % slimmer, allowing for a substantial increase in energy efficiency and design freedom in interior spaces. SLENTITE^® thus provides the insulation and aesthetics for customised climate management.

The silver-grey thermal insulation material Neopor^® is characterised by an excellent cost-benefit ratio, is particularly easy to handle, and offers many design possibilities. It is currently being used as an innovation in flat roofs – as in BASF’s office building D105, where the event was held.

The newest product in the Styrodur^® family – Styrodur^® 3000 CS – was also incorporated in the building, where it is in use as a classic XPS, in perimeter insulation, and as floor slabs. Styrodur has many possible applications and is highly robust. Customers also value the expert technical service provided by the Styrodur^® team.

Here you can find further information on sustainable constructing or reducing buildings' energy consumption.