Munich 2025

FabGap2 in Munich continued the conversation we had started in Vienna in 2024. Building on the conclusions we had arrived at there, we asked the questions who is ordering ​“productised buildings”, who is delivering them and how do they fit into the current regulatory frameworks.

As a year before we had three lively discussion panels exploring these questions and a series of highly thought-provoking presentations from the panellists we had invited.

Here are our conclusions:

1. The Role of Capital

Long-term success in industrialised construction hinges on aligning visionary ideas with viable business models. Investors and developers must balance risk and return, recognising that outdated profitability frameworks may obscure emerging opportunities. To unlock innovation, capital must remain alert and adaptive to future potential — and drive change.

2. Supplier Ecosystem

It was great to see a growing number of suppliers of product and system solutions. At present, however, these don’t seem to be ​‘one ecosystem’. There was consensus that more compatibility of these solutions will drive interchangeability, and reduce risks for client, designer and contractor. We see this as a prerequisite for industrialisation at scale.

3. The Role of Policy

Construction is one of the most regionally rooted and regulated industries.. To build more efficiently and sustainably at scale, policy makers must address regulatory barriers. Transforming an entire economic sector cannot be accomplished through individual organisations or companies alone. Enabling transformation in a socially acceptable way is a political task.

Speakers

Fabian Scheurer (Hochschule München / Design-to-Production)

Hubert Rhomberg (CEO Rhomberg Group / Founder of CREE) 

Wolf Mangelsdorf (Die Angewandte / Buro Happold) 

Thomas v. Küstenfeld (Architect and Partner, HENN Architekten)

Antonia Wissert (Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group BCG)

Angela Tohtz-Treiling (Architect and Senior Manager, PD Bundesbau) 

Jonathan Roynon (Technical Director, Buro Happold)

Hubert Rhomberg (CEO Rhomberg Group / Founder of CREE) 

Azam Jasim (Senior Industry Manager, Industrialized Construction, Autodesk)

Urs Ickler (Timber Engineer and Manager, TimberHomes)

Fabian Evers (Senior Expert Innovation & Digitalisation, Züblin STRABAG)

Charlotte Garrett (Head of Industry Strategy, KOPE)

Martha Tsigkari (Senior Partner, Head of Applied Research and Development, Foster + Partners)

Kathrin Dörfler (Professor for Digital Fabrication, TU Munich)

Andreas Kleinschmit von Lengefeld (Senior Partner, Homo Silvestris Europae)

Jamie Hillier (Partner, Akerlof)

Iain Rowe (Senior Expert – Product Evolution, Gropyus)

Daniel v. Schamann (Board member, Münchner Wohnen)

Campbell Middleton (Laing O’Rourke Professor of Construction Engineering, University of Cambridge)

Client’s Session

Panellists: Thomas v. Küstenfeld, Antonia Wissert, Angela Tohtz-Treiling, Jonathan Roynon, Hubert Rhomberg, Azam Jasim

Maker’s Session

Panellists: Urs Ickler, Fabian Evers, Charlotte Garrett, Martha Tsigkari, Kathrin Dörfler

Policy Session

Panellists: Andreas Kleinschmit von Lengefeld, Jamie Hillier, Iain Rowe, Daniel v. Schamann, Campbell Middleton