Feedback on the first episode of ‘R-Evolution/ary’ at the Arkinova Business Generator

Around one hundred Nouvelle Aquitaine stakeholders in sustainable building came together at the Arkinova Business Generator to discuss the developments and transformations resulting from the use of digital tools in their sector.

Initiated by the technological resource centre NOBATEK/INEF4, the CREAHd hub and the Arkinova Business Generator, all located at the Arkinova Technology Park, this theme day entitled ‘R-Evolution - Design & Building: a synergy to be reinvented?’ took place on 19 June.
The programme included a conference and three round tables on expected and ongoing changes resulting from the spread of digital tools in the building sector.

Among the day’s speakers were architects, designers, engineers, academics and IT specialists, all involved directly with digital transformation in the building sector. ‘Cross cutting expertise to create and innovate is a perfect illustration of the Business Generator’s philosophy’, said Sylvie Durruty, Vice President of the Basque Country Local Authority for economic growth and innovation, during the launch of the event.

For Olivier Scheffer, director of the Nobatek / INEF 4 technological research centre, ‘digital technology is shaking up building design. Sourcing and the transfer of technologies are crucial to the building and public works sector, if it is to be part of the ongoing digital transformation occurring in all economic sectors.’   

As part of the introduction to the day, Francesco Cingolani, architect, teacher and co-founder of the Master’s in Design by Data, explained how digital technology could free architects from numerous constraints and why, in his view, a cultural revolution is necessary to assimilate digital technology.  He also highlighted the importance of events such as the ‘R-Evolution’ day, to ‘create relations between different types of knowledge’. With its three sites, Izarbel, Technocité and Arkinova, it is these synergies between its different sectors of expertise that the Basque Country Technology Park wishes to encourage.

The three round tables addressed new design tools (BIM, parametric design, etc.), the place of art and creativity, this new digital revolution which affects all stages from the design to the commissioning of a project, the impact of new technologies in processes and the introduction of robotics on worksites. For Marie-Agnès Barrière, events officer of the Arkinova Business Generator, ‘the point of the day was to gather experts from all business sectors around the table.’ It was all the more significant that the participants represented ‘the whole value chain of the building sector.’  

Following this day rich in discussions and the sharing of knowledge, the ‘R-Evolution’ event will be held annually, with a dedicated theme for each edition.

Links:

Arkinova Business Generator

CREADh hub

 NOBATEK / INEF 4 Centre