Constructing New Wor(l)ds [English]

D... for Digital Twin [Rerun]

No, this isn't a sci-fi scenario! Digital twins are real, and even useful in the construction sector, especially for building simulations. The aim? To save time and, above all, make buildings more efficient and sustainable!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

E... for Extracted Earth

What if the solution to more sustainable construction was right under our feet? Extracted earth isn’t just rubble – it’s a precious resource. Let’s dig up its long-overlooked potential!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

L… for Lightweight Construction [Rerun]

What if lightweight construction wasn't just the use of lightweight materials, but a new way of thinking about buildings throughout their entire life cycle? Let's explore all the facets of this construction method, capable of meeting environmental, economic and social challenges.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

S... for Selective Demolition

When buildings are demolished, too much waste ends up in landfills. Why? Because of a lack of recycling facilities. To sustain the value of materials, which are the building blocks of tomorrow’s cities, it’s time we changed our approach to deconstruction. Let’s see how selective demolition is the answer to more circular and sustainable buildings.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

S… for Secondary Raw Materials [Rerun]

The construction industry consumes an enormous amount of raw materials and the extraction and use of these resources represent a heavy burden in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. What about the development of secondary raw materials?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

G... for Generative Design

Access to thousands of solutions in seconds so you can achieve the best balance between performance and comfort: that’s the promise of generative design. How does this technology, which blends artificial intelligence with human expertise, have the potential to revolutionize our approach to designing and constructing buildings?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

U... for Urban Mining [Rerun]

Recovering materials from building demolition. Faced with ever scarcer natural resources and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry is turning to “urban mining” – the recovery of construction materials from demolished buildings. However, what may sound like a virtuous circle is beset with obstacles.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

L… for Lean Construction

Lean Construction, to meet the challenges of productivity and growing environmental demands in the construction sector, is emerging as a solution for the future. Inspired by industrial methods, this approach aims to optimize construction processes by eliminating waste and improving coordination between stakeholders. What’s revolutionary about this way of designing and implementing projects?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

M… for Modular Construction [Rerun]

Adapting a building to the needs of its occupants can be done thanks to modularity. Whether it's a question of construction or interior layout, the principle is the same: change the distribution of building volumes over time to make it more agile, practical and, above all, more sustainable.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

A… for Adaptation

In the construction sector, adaptation has become a necessity due to the increasing frequency of extreme climate events. Today, this concept is profoundly transforming the sector, from design to construction, including the choice of materials and building methods. How can adaptation be incorporated into construction and renovation projects? How can we ensure that our buildings withstand current and future climate conditions, while minimizing the human and financial cost?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

R... for Resilience [Rerun]

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a shock or difficult ordeal, before returning to an initial situation. In the building and construction sector, this notion is being used more and more frequently, particularly to anticipate and cope with extreme weather events linked to climate change. And in real terms? The answer in this episode.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

E… for Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of sustainable construction. Consuming less energy while guaranteeing the same level of comfort is the goal set by the sector to meet the challenges of climate change and rising energy costs. Find out how this issue is revolutionizing the way we design, build and renovate our buildings!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future.

O... for Offsite construction

Offsite construction is a model based on the prefabrication of building elements at a location other than the worksite. Instead of building on site, individual modules or components are designed and manufactured at a workshop or plant before they are transported to and assembled on the worksite. The benefits are significant: quality, speed, safety, smaller carbon footprint... offsite construction has the potential to revolutionize the building industry! 

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

C... for Construction chemicals

Chemicals are everywhere, and the construction sector is no exception. They improve the performance of materials and products by giving them additional properties, such as mechanical resistance, impermeability, durability, and easy implementation. This market, estimated to be worth €100 billion globally, is in constant growth. What role does it play in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings today and in the future? 

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

S... for Soil Sealing

The term “soil sealing” refers to the transformation of natural land into stable, impermeable surfaces required for new buildings. Unfortunately, this process accelerates biodiversity loss, generates carbon emissions and exacerbates the effects of natural disasters. How can we stem the tide of population growth and economic development? What solutions can we employ to curb its spread?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

L… for LCA

The Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, quantifies a building's environmental footprint over its entire life cycle. From the extraction of raw materials used in the manufacture of products and materials, through the operating phase to the end of the building's life. An invaluable tool to guide players in the sustainable construction sector!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

B… for Bill of Materials

A bill of materials, or BOM for short, is a list of all the materials needed to produce an end product – which includes buildings! It’s a tool that can prove especially useful for calculating a more accurate ecological footprint of buildings – and shrinking as much as possible!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

S… for Secondary Raw Materials

The construction industry consumes an enormous amount of raw materials and the extraction and use of these resources represent a heavy burden in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. What about the development of secondary raw materials? 

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

U... for Urban Mining

Recovering materials from building demolition. Faced with ever scarcer natural resources and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry is turning to “urban mining” – the recovery of construction materials from demolished buildings. However, what may sound like a virtuous circle is beset with obstacles.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

P... for Passive Building

In Germany in the 1970s, the first passive houses were built with the challenge of minimizing energy consumption. How have these pioneering buildings inspired architects and residents in their search for more sustainable housing?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

P... for PAAS

PAAS stands for “product as a service”. It’s a model based on how a product is used and not just its physical ownership. For businesses, this calls for new business models and longer-term thinking. And the world of construction is gradually starting to adopt a similar approach as shown in this episode.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

B… for Building Operating System

Building Operating Systems (BOS) are truly intelligent systems, guaranteeing the comfort of building occupants and providing invaluable support for proper maintenance and energy consumption in buildings. In this podcast, we tell you all you need to know about this new acronym.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

M… for Modular Construction

Adapting a building to the needs of its occupants can be done thanks to modularity. Whether it's a question of construction or interior layout, the principle is the same: change the distribution of building volumes over time to make it more agile, practical and, above all, more sustainable.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

U... for Urban Heat Island

There's no doubt about it: cities are mineral, and therefore sparsely planted. The consequence? They store more heat than the surrounding countryside, creating "urban heat islands". But there are ways to avoid them, and make our cities more pleasant to live in despite rising temperatures. Here are some examples in this latest episode.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

C... for Clinkerisation

Cement production is a major CO2 generator. As it has become essential to improve its environmental footprint, many efforts are focused on clinkerisation. Explanations in this new episode!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

D... for Digital Twin

No, this isn't a sci-fi scenario! Digital twins are real, and even useful in the construction sector, especially for building simulations. The aim? To save time and, above all, make buildings more efficient and sustainable!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

R... for Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a shock or difficult ordeal, before returning to an initial situation. In the building and construction sector, this notion is being used more and more frequently, particularly to anticipate and cope with extreme weather events linked to climate change. And in real terms? The answer in this episode.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

L… for Lightweight Construction

What if lightweight construction wasn't just the use of lightweight materials, but a new way of thinking about buildings throughout their entire life cycle? Let's explore all the facets of this construction method, capable of meeting environmental, economic and social challenges.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

C… for Cogeneration

Why produce just one type of energy when you can produce two? This is precisely the function of cogeneration, a process various industries are harnessing to optimize their energy production and consumption. It’s a promising solution for the residential sector, and one that could in future produce energy for buildings and their occupants.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

B... for Bio-based materials

Are bio-sourced materials the future of a more sustainable construction sector? Not quite so simple. And what exactly does the term “biobased” mean? Let's decipher.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

M... for Massive Urbanization

Within twenty years, two-thirds of the world's population will be living in cities. Metropolises are getting bigger and bigger, and their challenges are growing all the time: management of drinking water, wastewater, waste, air pollution, access to decent housing... How can new construction methods support cities and this galloping densification? Find out in our podcast.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

E... for Embodied Emissions

Aiming to achieve carbon neutrality is the objective of the construction industry by 2050. To reach that goal, we need to reduce what's called “embodied carbon” emissions, which are related to the manufacture, installation and disposal of a building and its materials. This episode looks at what embodied emissions really means and deciphers the solutions that enable buildings to reduce their CO2 footprint.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

X… for Xeriscaping

Green spaces that need no water. This is xeriscaping, an approach gaining in popularity, particularly in urban planning, as water is becoming a rare resource to be preserved. In this episode, we decipher what this strange word actually means.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

A... for Anthropocene

Modern human activities are responsible for rising temperatures, various forms of pollution and declining biodiversity. This trend is even said to have created a new geological era: the Anthropocene. But what exactly does this concept mean? And how does it impact on the way we think about building a more sustainable world?

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

Z... for Zero Carbon

Businesses in the construction industry are building and renovating more and more sustainably to deal with the climate crisis and scarcity of natural resources. These new construction methods come with a whole lexical field, a vocabulary of innovation and solutions to explore!

CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.

Discover Constructing New Wor(l)ds, a Saint-Gobain podcast

Cogeneration, Anthropocene, Xeriscaping, Embedded Carbon, eco-materials... The evolution of our vocabulary - with the invention of new words - reveals our desire to think differently, to reinvent habitat and the city, to build a more sustainable futur. But what are the realities behind these neologisms?

Constructing New Wor(l)ds, Saint-Gobain's new podcast series, deciphers more than twenty words that describe a world already in the throes of change.

CONSTRUCTING NEW WOR(L)DS, by Saint-Gobain.

Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future.