In its second edition, this format, initiated by Drees & Sommer and supported by Holtmann+, brought together leading minds and experts from the construction and real estate industry to present and discuss forward-looking ideas and solutions.
The format has evolved significantly since the first event in 2022. The summit in 2023 was characterized by new formats, such as the FUTURE HOUSE OF INNOVATION and a variety of other communication spaces.
In order to advance the construction and real estate industry, a new collaboration between the various players and their expertise is necessary. As a full-service provider for live communication, Holtmann+ has set itself the goal of realizing forward-looking trends and concepts and thus always being able to meet the changing requirements of the market. In doing so, Holtmann+ relies on a network of partnerships and cooperations, as well as in the conception and implementation of the DESIGNING THE FUTURE initiative.
In close cooperation with Drees & Sommer and other supporters of the initiative, the Holtmann+ team once again rose to this special challenge and was once again rewarded with the successful realization of an event that was unique in its kind: More than 800 committed participants, 200 inspiring impulse-givers and 40 partners constructively explored the development, planning, building and operation of tomorrow in 8 unique formats over two days of the summit.
The partnership between Drees & Sommer and Holtmann+ once again proved to be the perfect match.
"Our commitment to sustainability and our striving for innovation make us a perfect match with our partner Drees & Sommer. Drees & Sommer provides us with valuable industry knowledge and we know our way around communication formats. As part of the DESIGNING THE FUTURE initiative, we have collaboratively brought these two areas of expertise to the table. Together, we have created a new format that invites dialog, is interactive and dynamic. We have the opportunity to go into depth and discuss holistic topics in a different way than with a pure product focus," says Jörg Zeißig, CEO at Holtmann+.
DESIGNING THE FUTURE focused on innovations and future-proof solutions for sustainable construction and real estate development.
Ann-Katrin Enz, Project Manager of DESIGNING THE FUTURE and Business Transformation & Network Manager at Drees & Sommer, emphasized:
"We live in a world of change, in which new visions for new realities are required. We cannot and must not continue as before. We need different processes, different solutions, different products and a different approach to resources."
Together with the initiator Drees & Sommer, Holtmann+ has dedicated itself to the task of designing and implementing the vision of a new event format for the construction and real estate industry developed by Götz Schönfeld, Head of Business Transformation and Network Management at Drees & Sommer.
"As a marketplace for shaping the future, the Summit is a mix of congress, discussion panels, impulses, workshops and an exhibition that will provide our industry with a space to engage in a fruitful discourse on innovations and solutions for sustainable construction and real estate development. In order to drive forward the transformation of our industry, we need a new collaboration between architects, investors, politicians, developers and solution providers. This project must be mapped in terms of space, content and format. We want to break new ground, which means that everyone involved has to move out of their comfort zone," says GötzSchönfeld, describing his vision.
"With Holtmann+, we have a partner at our side who has met precisely this challenge with verve and has developed a new format in a strong, already existing environment of events within just a few months, without a fixed exhibitor and visitor base. The team has taken up our vision in the best possible way, thinking far beyond the usual standards and designing a physical meeting format that takes the classic trade fair to another level,"Götz Schönfeld continues.
Together, the two companies set standards and created a platform on which ideas become reality. Melissa Schönfeld, Concept & Strategy Manager at Holtmann+, emphasizes that:
"...the focus of the creative process was on a balanced and target group-appropriate interplay of spatial design and the creation of spaces for content-related discourse. We took on this challenge together and pooled our skills in architecture, design & conception and implementation expertise. The resulting concept for DESIGNING THE FUTURE ist das erste seiner Art, da es eine ganzheitliche Kommunikation im Raum ermöglicht.“
The multi-zone concept implemented in the previous year, which enabled different communication formats to be held in parallel in one room, was successfully brought to life again this year. The core of the concept was enriched with additional components so that visitors could be offered a variety of talk formats in which they could immerse themselves in the current key topics and participate in a wide range of discussions and brainstorming sessions.
In the "Future Talks", interesting personalities discussed topics such as "From Vision to Reality" or "Use, Reuse, Recycle"
In the "Focus Talks", current focus topics were discussed in small groups. In particular, topics such as "CO2-efficient interior construction with sustainable building materials" or "Future of the construction industry: sustainability + innovation = transformation?" were debated here.
The "deep dives" served as small discussion rounds to discuss burning topics such as various real estate challenges in great detail.
In the "Practical Talks", visitors learned how specific practical examples, such as "The Heisenberg Gymnasium in Dortmund - Germany's first modular steel building with Green Steel", were realized.
The "Reality Talk" format ensured direct participation by visitors, in which everyone was able to contribute to the exciting discussions with a "hot seat" using the fishbowl concept. Among other things, hot topics such as the shortage of skilled workers and urban infrastructure were discussed.
The very special format of the "Walk & Talk" enabled a topic-related guided tour to specific exhibitors. Example topics included "Future of Live Communication" and "From Linear to Circular Design".
In addition to the guided talk formats, free networking was also promoted through the integration of corresponding lounge areas. This enabled an intensive exchange between leading experts, visionaries and movers and shakers in the industry at all levels.
In addition to the communicative offerings, the summit offered a wide variety of exhibition areas where partner companies could present their products. The exhibitor areas also served as contact points for further exploring the topics teased in the various talk formats.
A completely new format and one of the highlights of the event was the FUTURE HOUSE OF INNOVATION. Under the motto "from vision to reality", a collage offered a wide variety of visions, ideas and guiding principles about the future of our cities, districts, buildings and spaces. A potpourri of images, ideas and conceivable and feasible future solutions for the future development, planning, construction and operation of real estate illustrated these visions of the future. As a collection of exemplary projects, products and innovative or alternative solutions from the circle of exhibiting partner companies and ideal supporters, the FUTURE HOUSE OF INNOVATION pursued the common path into the future of the construction and real estate industry.
The entire content and inspiring talk formats as part of the DESIGNING THE FUTURE initiative were based on profound ulterior motives. This is how Jörg Zeißig, CEO of Holtmann+:
"We need the format of the trade fair, but that's not all. We need more. Focusing purely on the placement of products is no longer enough to create a successful networking event. What is needed is a transformation of the pure trade fair format towards the establishment of platforms that invite participants to engage in dialog, stimulate discussion and facilitate discourse. The focus is shifting from the mere product concept to topic-specific communication."
Throughout the event, participants discussed a wide range of topics in the construction and real estate industry, exchanged ideas and developed joint solutions.
In terms of content, the focus was on the energy modernization of existing buildings and how this can be tackled using sustainable and digital approaches.
Another substantive learning was that the circular economy requires sustainable planning, rethinking waste and the use of environmentally friendly products, which requires pragmatism and determination in management to overcome regulatory barriers.
Similarly, diversity in teams goes beyond gender equality and leads to stronger performance, resilience and commercial success. Overall, the industry needs to clearly focus on decarbonization and climate-positive, revitalized buildings, with sustainability being cost-effective.
Building culture must change in order to promote reuse and the use of alternative, sustainable materials.
Unconventional approaches are necessary to achieve the goals set.
In addition to format development and content and architectural conception, Holtmann+ was also responsible for the overall implementation of the format this year, including the design of the stage program and the entire event management. Melissa Schönfeld took over the overall project management of DESIGNING THE FUTURE from Holtmann+ and describes the process as both challenging and exciting:
"Due to its complexity, it was essential to work in partnership with the entire team and Drees & Sommer to bring the developed concept to life. Our motivation here was always to create a unique experience that will be remembered for a long time."
The two partner companies see cooperation as an investment in their own future and that of entire generations. True to the motto: "Together everyone achieves more".
"I am deeply impressed by the passion, commitment and wealth of ideas that was palpable in the air over these two days," says Marcel Roll, Project Manager DESIGNING THE FUTURE and Consultant Business Transformation & Network Management at Drees & Sommer.
The partnership between Drees & Sommer and Holtmann+ is set to continue in the coming year 2024. Together, they want to further develop the successful DESIGNING THE FUTURE format.
On September 18 and 19, 2024, the format will enter the next round under the new name "neext Future Summit". Holtmann+ is looking forward to more memorable moments together.
You can find more information about DESIGNING THE FUTURE here
here.