BAU 2009

Exhibition space at BAU once again fully booked

Date: 12 - 17 January 2009
Venue: Munich Trade Fair Center

Demand for space at BAU is stronger than ever before. "Basically all the capacity has been used up," said Markus Geisenberger, the Exhibition Group Director at Messe München responsible for BAU. However, experience has shown that in the weeks and months before a fair starts, there are a number of cancellations and some shuffling of space, so that there is always a chance for companies to find a gap. "Opportunities to take part do occasionally crop up," said Geisenberger.

Demand for more space
The fact that BAU can report such a high level of bookings at this early stage also has to do with the exhibitors´ wish for larger stands. 'More space' - this has been a frequent request to the exhibition managers in recent months, and in most cases the organisers have been able to accommodate them. Another factor at play here is that companies that did not take part in BAU 2007 are now returning. Finally of course the positive economic development is giving a boost. Geisenberger: "The situation is not always simple, because we do have a natural limit at 180,000 square metres of space. On the other hand, this strong demand is showing that BAU, as Europe´s leading trade fair for the sector, is of tremendous significance in the marketing mix of the companies."?

Clear positioning
BAU has long been more than just a platform for building materials. It presents what is for Europe a unique combination of architecture, materials and systems for commercial, industrial and residential building, and for interior fittings. This is also reflected in the new subtitle for the fair: 'Architecture, Materials, Systems'. BAU is therefore about "an integration of architectural planning and technical realisation,"? said Markus Geisenberger.

Extensive range of products and solutions
The range of products and solutions presented at BAU 2009 covers the whole bandwidth of planning, building and design. The 17 exhibition halls are divided up according to building materials, product and theme areas.

• Halls C1, B1, B2 and B3 are dedicated to façades and façade systems, and building components and buildings systems mainly of aluminium and steel, also including solar shading systems and building automation and management systems. This section, covering over 40,000 square metres of space, is also the home for the full range of automatic gate and door systems and for machinery and equipment for processing aluminium and steel.
• The area of lifts and escalators is being presented at BAU in partnership with the VDMA trade association of the same name. Leading manufacturers in this field will be exhibiting products that feature a combination of safety, convenience and design in a special dedicated section of the trade fair covering some 1,000 m² in Hall C1. The focus of the presentation is on how intelligent lift solutions can be integrated into an overall architectural concept.
• The major international companies in the glass industry will be putting on their presentations in Hall C2, showcasing their latest developments and products in glass and glass architecture. 'Visions of Glass' is the motto of these sophisticated stands.
• Doors and windows made of wood, plastics, glass and aluminium, plus locks and fittings - these products will be on display in a continuous area covering a total of 26,000 square metres of space in Halls C3, C4 and B4. Here, the trade visitors will find manufacturers and suppliers in close proximity to each other. One key theme is building security. On show will be various concepts and systems, from mechanical systems to prevent break-ins to electronic monitoring systems and fire and smoke alarms.
• A key factor in planning buildings is energy and solar technology. The themes of energy efficiency and energy generation run through all the product sections at BAU, but in Hall B3 there is a particular concentration of exhibitors who will be showing how photovoltaic and solar-thermal systems can be integrated attractively into buildings.
• Another section having a dedicated area is BAU IT, on around 5,000 square metres of space in Hall C3. This is the biggest display of IT for construction in Europe. Leading manufacturers will be presenting hardware and software solutions for professionals in all segments of the building industry.
• Hall B5 is the place for a comprehensive range of products and solutions from the wood and plastics industry. Here the themes covered are structural frames, interior fittings and all the different materials based on wood.
• The entire spectrum of floorings - from elastic (linoleum, PVC, rubber, cork) and textile to laminates and parquet - will be on show in a compact, well planned section in Hall B6 and parts of Hall A6, on around 12,000 square metres of exhibition space.
• The section on tiles and ceramics is traditionally to be found in Hall A6. Leading manufacturers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere, will be presenting their latest creations for interior design, in particular for bathrooms and sanitary fittings.
• Chemical building products are concentrated in Hall A5 and in a part of Hall A4, on around 16,000 square metres of space. Leading manufacturers will be showing how their extensive ranges - from insulation materials to plasters, renders, paints, varnishes and adhesives - can be used on walls and façades.
• Also in Hall A4: Stone, cast stone and urban design solutions.
• Roofing materials and roof windows will take up all of Hall A3. The brick and tile industry will be showcasing its entire repertoire - from wall blocks and roof tiles to complete building sections.
• The section on stones/soils, covering 22,000 square metres of space in Halls A1 and A2, covers stoneware, sand-lime bricks, concrete and porous concrete, fibre-cement building products, plasters/renders, screeds and insulation materials.
• An entire section is again being dedicated to the theme of renovations and modernisation, in Hall B0. This display is supported by the German Ministry of Transport, Construction and Urban Development and a working group on renovations, the Bundesarbeitskreis Altbauerneuerung. Trade visitors coming along to this section can find out about all aspects connected with renovating, modernising and refurbishing existing buildings.

A detailed hall plan of BAU 2009 is available on the Internet, at: www.bau-muenchen.com/en/home, in the section 'BAU at a glance'.

C-halls accessible via North Entrance
Halls C1 to C4 will benefit from the new infrastructure in the area of the North Entrance. Here there will be a direct link to the parking areas, where there is space for 7,000 cars, 4,500 of them alone in the multistorey car park at the West Entrance. The shuttle buses coming from Munich Airport will also stop directly at the North Entrance. Separate taxi access to the North Entrance will also improve communication in this northern part of the centre.

The focal themes at BAU 2009 will span all materials, offering solutions for almost all segments of building, and ones that are of interest in particular to architects, planners and project developers. These key themes at BAU 2009 are: Energy-efficient Building, Renovation & Modernisation and Inclusive Design.

The broad range on show at BAU 2009 is tailored to suit the various visitor target groups. It appeals to all those involved in the process of planning, designing and building. These include:

• Planners: Architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, structural engineers, local and national building authorities.
• Investors: Housing associations, building developers, local authority developers, real-estate managers, fund managers, agents.
• Building trades: Bricklayers, carpenters, fitters, flooring fitters, heating engineers, joiners, landscape gardeners, metalworkers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, roofers, tilers.
• Building materials trade: building material suppliers, DIY stores.

Forums on 'The Future of Building' and 'Macro-architecture'
In addition to the presentations by the exhibitors themselves, BAU 2009 will also be taking up themes - in two forums - that are of particular importance to planners, architects, project developers and investors. The lecture programme in the forum on 'The Future of Building' in Hall C2 concentrates on the themes of 'Mega-cities', 'Energy and architecture', 'Homes today and tomorrow', 'Solar architecture', 'Built visions' and 'Emerging stars.' BAU is putting on this forum in cooperation with the Bundesarchitektenkammer (Federal Chamber of German Architects) and building publishers Bauverlag, Gütersloh. It is supported by Deutsches Steinzeug Agrob-Buchtal, the Informationszentrum Beton and Saint-Gobain Isover.

The forum on 'Macro-architecture' in Hall A6 concentrates on the dialogue between architecture and industry. It explores themes connected with both the exterior of a building and its interior. On the programme here is a diverse range of lectures entitled, for example 'Material and product', 'Colour and ornament', 'Surface and innovation', 'Building and detail', 'Façade and function' and 'Architecture and responsibility'. The partners in this project are the Bund Deutscher Innenarchitekten (Association of German Interior Designers) and the architectural journal AIT. The forum is supported by bulthaup and Egger Holzwerkstoffe.

The speakers in both forums are in the main well known architects, planners and construction engineers. Simultaneous interpretation facilities (German/English) will be provided at all lectures. Both forums not only provide information, but thanks to their lounge-like design, are a great place to spend some time. The high-class bars in these forum spaces are ideal meeting places, and can support communication with your target groups. Both forums are freely accessible, and all BAU ticket holders may attend.

Special shows
Some key themes for the future of building will be presented in the form of special shows in dedicated exhibition areas.

• Renovation & Modernisation: Gathered together in Hall B0 are all the initiatives and activities on the subject of renovation and modernisation. This includes: buildings diagnosis; inclusive construction; identifying and repairing damage; energy-efficient building; statutory regulations governing renovation and modernisation work; finance and grants. Each day, under the motto of 'Renovation & Modernisation Market Place' there will be a series of lectures, seminars and workshops. Simultaneous interpretation facilities (English/German) will be provided at all lectures.
• Inclusive Design: Together with the initiative 'Living without Barriers', BAU is putting on a special show on this theme in Hall A4. The focus here is on the design of different living spaces, and also on new forms of living, such as for example designs for situations where several generations live together in the same space. Other themes include 'Controls & Automation', 'Security and Innovation', 'Bathrooms & Wellness', and 'Design of Outdoor Spaces'. In addition products will be presented that are specially tuned to the needs of older people or people with a physical handicap.
• Euro-Vision Windows and Doors: This special show, in Hall C3, presents solutions with modern building components that meet differing regional requirements. A range of forward-looking building projects will be used to show the use of innovative windows, interior doors and building components in different regions - from thermal insulation in Siberia to solar shading in southern Europe. The various constructions will be on show in detail, complete with technical specifications, to enable visitors to compare the different requirements in the key markets of Europe. This special show is being put on by ift Rosenheim, Messe München and leading manufacturers.
• Wood construction of the future: In cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Holzforschung (German Society for Wood Research), BAU presents a range of projects that are sponsored by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs under the title 'Wood construction of the future'. For this various institutions and research establishments teamed up with the Technical University of Munich and wood industry associations to form a research alliance. The results of 20 projects within this alliance will be presented here - among them on the subjects of 'fire safety', 'facades', 'energy, climate and systems technology', and 'new components, new building materials'.
• Italian Design: In cooperation with Abitare il tempo, the trade fair for interior design and design that takes place in Verona, BAU 2009 is putting on the special show on 'Italian Design'. A high-quality interior design project will be set out in Hall A6 on 250 square-metres of exhibition space. On show here will be the winning entries in a design show held at Abitare il Tempo.

Competitions and prizes
As part of BAU 2009 once again a range of architecture and engineering prizes will be awarded. These include:

• the 1:1 Award for 'The first house', organised by the trade journal Bauwelt, Berlin - Please read the report on www.architects24.com
• the DETAIL Award for 'Aesthetics and Construction' organised by the trade journal DETAIL of Munich.
• for the first time: The Archi-BAU-Awards and ARCHI-Clips-Awards in cooperation with the online portals www.archi-europe.com  and www.architube.tv 
• the 'Award for Product Innovations for R&M' in cooperation with the Bundesarbeitskreis Altbauerneuerung (BAKA) and building publishers Bauverlag, Gütersloh
• the 'German Façade Prize 2009 for ventilated curtain walls' from the FVHF as part of the German Façade Day.
• the Bavarian Engineers´ Prize awarded by the Bavarian Chamber of Engineers at the Bavarian Engineers Day.
• the AIT Innovation Prize, in cooperation with the architectural journal AIT.
• the competition 'Built on IT - Building jobs with a future' in cooperation with the German Ministry of Economics and Technology/RKW (Centre for Rationalisation and Innovation of the German Economy), the principal association in the German building industry and the Zentralverband des Deutschen Baugewerbes.
• the Building Retail Oscars, awarded and presented by publishers Wohlfarth of Duisburg.

Further information:
http://www.bau-muenchen.de/link/en/16594903