A joint event organised by the InNoWest - Einfach machen! research network of the University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences focused on the opportunities and challenges of modernising the widespread GDR house type EW 58.

The participants from science, administration and practice discussed topics such as

• Energy efficiency, costs and quality in the refurbishment of standardised homes
• the role of digital planning tools
• Standardisation and typification as an opportunity for future-oriented living space.

Presentations by Lisa Honeck (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar) on the history of EW buildings and Christian Bernrieder (BSL Architekten) on the successful refurbishment of an EW 65 (a widespread further development of the EW 58) highlighted the potential of serial construction and refurbishment.

In her welcoming address, Dr Ina Bartmann, State Secretary at the Brandenburg Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Planning, emphasised the importance of building culture as a central component of regional identity: our built environment shapes encounters, cohesion and quality of life - and must be developed further at the same time.

The event once again showed how important the exchange between research, politics and practice is in order to combine technical innovations with regional building culture and identity.