Future Façade 2025 – Where Academia Meets Industry

Its been some time ago,

but we still have to share it here — because Future Façade 2025 was truly something special.
In the buzzing halls of the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, something new began: an event where academics, makers, and industry experts met not in theory, but in action — surrounded by prototypes, ideas, and the unmistakable sound of innovation.

Together with our friends from Jaarbeurs Utrecht and colleagues from TU Darmstadt and TU Delft, Christian Louter, Ulrich Knaack, and Marcel Bilow, we launched the very first edition of this show. The goal was simple but ambitious — to bring façade research and real-world production closer together. And it worked beautifully.

A playground of façades and future materials

The exhibition floor was full of energy. Prototypes from the TU Delft Bucky Lab stood proudly next to industry showcases and university research projects. Visitors could touch, test, and discuss — from biobased materials to adaptive shading systems, circular metal structures, and digitally crafted ceramics.
It wasn’t just an exhibition; it was a conversation in materials — a place where every sample told a story and every joint held a new idea.

Students walked alongside engineers, architects, and manufacturers, asking questions and sharing insights. Many exhibitors said what we all felt: this was the kind of event we’ve been missing — one that combines curiosity with craftsmanship.

When research meets reality

The accompanying two-day symposium added a deeper layer. Moderated by Prof. Christian Louter, the sessions “Research Meets Industry” became a stage for true exchange.
We listened to talks about building with paper, water-filled glass façades, CO₂-negative bricks, and digital ceramic production. Each topic pushed the boundaries of what façades can be — sustainable, intelligent, and alive.

Meanwhile, other sessions explored:

• Facades as a Service, a look at new business models for the circular age,
• SOMBRA, a poetic ode to the sun and non-electric shading,
• Omni-Shell by WilkinsonEyre, ARUP, and Scheldebouw, rethinking carbon and structure,
• and NEXT Architects, who invited us to imagine new urban narratives for old buildings.
• and many more

Enthusiasm you could feel

What made these days unforgettable wasn’t just the content — it was the spirit. People stayed long after the sessions ended, sketching, chatting, comparing prototypes, and sharing stories. The networking moments felt more like reunions between passionate makers than business meetings.

Looking ahead

As the last visitors left the hall, there was a shared sense that something had started here — a format that unites education, research, and industry in the most tangible way possible.

And yes, the good news:
Future Façade will return in 2027, again in Utrecht. Bigger, better, and with even more prototypes, ideas, and stories to tell.

Until then, we’ll keep building, experimenting, and sharing what we learn — one façade at a time.