The Efficient Habitat Cluster of Castilla y León (AEICE) organised the 1st National Cutting-Edge Habitat Congress: New Frontiers in Construction from 3 to 5 June at the Feria de Valladolid, bringing together over 300 companies from the sector and 80 speakers, with the support of the Regional Ministry for the Environment, Housing and Spatial Planning.
This was the first event of its kind in the industrial habitat sector, where leading experts and companies at the forefront of innovation on the national scene gathered to address three of the major challenges facing the industry: housing, industrialisation, and the role of artificial intelligence as a driver of growth.
The congress placed particular emphasis on the adoption of industrialised construction methods as a means to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Likewise, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to the construction industry was highlighted for its role in process automation, data management and design innovation.
Round Table: The Race Towards Industrialisation
As part of the drive towards a more efficient, sustainable and innovative construction sector, on 4 June a round table entitled “The Race Towards Industrialisation” was held — a key meeting point for professionals from various fields to discuss the role of different stakeholders in this transformative process.
The session was moderated by Juan Carlos Cabrero, Technical Architect and Director of the Course on Industrialised Construction Techniques at the Official College of Quantity Surveyors and Technical Architects of Madrid. Under his guidance, the discussion explored the current challenges, opportunities, and needs surrounding the industrialisation of building processes.
Prominent figures from the sector took part in the round table:
- José Manuel Garcilópez, Director of Industrialised Construction at Saint-Gobain Spain, who shared insights from the perspective of the building materials industry and advanced construction solutions.
- Ana González Martín, Head of Training Design at Fundación Laboral de la Construcción, who emphasised the crucial role of training as a cornerstone to support change.
- Felipe Romero Salvachúa, Technical Director at the Institute of Construction of Castilla y León, who contributed an approach grounded in research, innovation, and technological development applied to the built environment.
- Juan Luis Higuera, Project Manager at the Neuroarchitecture Laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, who brought a design perspective focused on well-being through the integration of neuroscience in architecture.
The round table highlighted that industrialisation should not be seen solely as a technological evolution, but rather as a comprehensive transformation involving all stakeholders in the sector: industry, training centres, research institutions and design professionals.
