Construmat will convert Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue into the largest construction exhibitor from May 21 to 23. In its 23rd edition, it increases its exhibition space by 50% compared to the previous one, exceeding 10,000 square meters. In an edition marked by innovation and sustainability, the show will feature more than 300 exhibitors and 600 brands, positioning the fair as the most representative and transversal event in the construction sector in Spain.
With solutions and proposals ranging from machinery, tools, and industrialized construction to urban planning and everything necessary for the design of interior and exterior spaces, the show will act as the epicenter of the construction sector in Spain during the three days it will land in Fira's Pavilion 2. There will be no shortage of proposals linked to Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology or new technologies applied to projects and works, as well as products for bathrooms, kitchens, and even sun protection and energy capture. In all these aspects, the show aims to make the latest market solutions and innovations available to construction professionals.
To this end, Construmat will feature the participation of leading firms such as Ausa, Cementos Molins, Drutex, Durmi, Encofrats Alsina, Evowall Technology, Fischer, Haier Iberia, Holcim España, Hormipresa Nec, Indalsu, Jung, K-Line, KLH Massivholz, Nibe, PMP/Prêt-à-porter Casas/Khanvian, Roca, Saltoki, Schnell, Technal, and TQ Tecnol. Among the exhibiting companies, about fifty come from the international sphere, with 18 countries including Germany, Belgium, Egypt, France, Italy, and Poland. Furthermore, with an eye on the international markets of the Mediterranean arc, this edition of Construmat will feature Morocco as a guest country, with a trade mission made up of companies, sector federations, architects' associations, and Moroccan builders' and developers' associations.
The show, the longest-running in construction in Spain, will complement its exhibition offer with a program of multiple activities and presentationsThe event, which has the support of more than 40 business organizations and professional entities, will have sustainability and innovation as its central axis, with a focus on issues such as energy efficiency and housing rehabilitation, and with the motto Building Sustainabilityd. LConstrumat's commitment to sustainability will take shape with the actual construction of a three-story wooden house, designed by architect Alba Lucila Gutiérrez.
The exhibition, the longest-running in construction in Spain, will complement its exhibition offering with a program of multiple activities, including those of the Sustainable Building Congress. With more than 120 speakers in 50 presentations and 15 round tables in two auditoriums, the congress will address proposals and initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of construction activity, ranging from decarbonization to circular economy and digital technologies.
To illustrate these practices and trends, the congress will rely on the presentation of real sustainable construction projects, such as the new ecodistrict of La Mercedes, on the former grounds of the Mercedes-Benz factory in Barcelona. Projects located beyond the Catalan capital will be the focus of other presentations at the congress, such as the remodeling of the urban space of Madrid between the Royal Palace and Plaza España; the Madrid Nuevo Norte project in the Chamartín train station area, and the new headquarters of the multinational Bosch in Casablanca, which will be presented by the teams that have developed them.
Emerging proposals
In addition, the exhibition will also reserve a prominent role for emerging companies. With the PropCon Hub space, it will give visibility to 20 startups that use digital technology in construction, as well as in real estate management. The space will feature a forum that will host expert presentations on innovation in construction, ranging from the use of AI to sustainable prefabrication. The event will also feature a workshops and workshops area, which will include certification sessions and conferences by the Council for International Accreditation of Architecture and Design, an official UN partner for the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Awards for sustainable innovation
The delivery of the Construmat awards, curated by the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, will complete the event's program. This edition of the awards has recognized the project of 85 social housing units by the Peris+Toral studio in the former Pisa cinema in Cornellà de Llobregat, for its modular approach and its prefabricated wooden construction. The jury has also awarded two special mentions: one to a community sports center in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil, by the Spanish architect Juan Carlos Bamba and the Natura Futura studio, and another for Le Magasin Eléctrique in Arles, France, a work by the Assemble, BC Architects & Studies and Atelier Luma studios.
Apart from the projects highlighted by the jury from among 17 nominees, this edition has featured for the first time a public award, which went to the Collegium Accademicum student residence in Heidelberg, Germany. From the DGJ Architektur studio, it is a wooden construction with a modular and flexible approach, which earned it an award that will be presented at a ceremony on May 22.
In addition, within the framework of the Barcelona Architecture Weeks, the fair will also offer a day of visits for young students and a Job Market in collaboration with Barcelona Activa, in order to connect with the talent that is called to lead the future of construction, including its most sustainable and innovative aspect.