nZEB Expo 2024: an innovative and inspiring fair is a resounding success in Bucharest

The most dynamic, modern and interactive trade fair I have ever attended in Romania has come to an end. nZEB EXPO, the energy efficient building fair organized by șoflete.ro, The Concept and Event Builder has dismantled the idea that trade fairs are outdated, that people no longer want to meet face to face and that online presence on different channels is enough. Marius Șoflete demonstrated that if organisers offer an updated concept, a modern and interactive way of relating, both exhibitors and visitors will attend the fair.

At the end of the 2023 edition of nZEB goes passive fair in Cluj, also organized by Marius Șoflete and his team, I was in a state of maximum excitement. I put it down to the fact that Revista din Lemn was part of that team, being more than just a media partner. This year, although I couldn't respond to Marius' invitation to be with them during the organization, at the end of the fair I was in the same state of excitement. I was there for two of the three days of the fair talking to participants, organisers, visitors and guests. Everyone unanimously agreed that it was a very good fair, dynamic, modern, with many visitors, lots of good quality information, conferences, guests, presentations, workshops. I was also invited to give a presentation on the sustainability of wood and was surprised to see the hall full of interested people at 10.30 on Saturday morning.

Timber house builders unanimously agree that nZEB Expo was the most successful fair ever

We spoke to all the timber frame house manufacturers present at the fair to give an overview of the industry. We wanted to see how the first part of this year was for each of them and how they see the second part of the year and the year 2025. The full material will be available shortly on our video channels. As well as asking about the state of the timber construction industry, we also asked how they felt about the fair, their expectations from the fair and whether they were confirmed. They all agreed that it was by far the best trade fair they had attended. They were satisfied with the organisation, the promotion of the fair prior to the event, the massive attendance of visitors.

For us, the influx of visitors was a real challenge. The exhibitors were constantly talking to the visitors and hardly found a free moment to chat with us. Some of them were speechless by the end of the day. They were exhausted, but you could see on their faces the enthusiasm of a good day, beyond expectations.

Informed visitors, lesson learned

Another aspect they all agreed on was the level of preparation, of information of the visitors. Indeed, there is a lot of good information about what nZEB means, what a passive house is, how you achieve energy efficiency, how you can have high comfort and minimal maintenance costs by building correctly. The documented information brought online by Marius Șoflete, George Buhnici, the Miradex team and many others is helping to raise the level of the construction sector because more and more beneficiaries know what to ask for and don't accept half-measures. And the information is not just about how to build an energy efficient house properly, but also about all the other systems that make a smart home.

Much of this information also comes from Wood Magazine. For us, it's a great achievement that both builders and the public say we're doing a good job. The written and video materials help builders to detail their products and become relevant, and the public to understand what they need.

Generous spaces for discussion and debate

I appreciated the generous spaces dedicated to discussion and debate. Both for meetings organised between different representatives of the field and for ad-hoc meetings. In order to move forward, all areas need debates, discussions that bring problems forward and find solutions to them. Marius has managed to bring developers, local government representatives, beneficiaries on the same stage and provoke discussions that bring problems to the fore.

The presence at the fair of Carlos Moreno, the visionary urban planner, also aroused interest. His vision of city development was listened to by a large group of property developers. Carlos is the initiator and promoter of the "15 minute city"a new type of urban organisation that means access to all basic needs in less than 15 minutes on foot, by bike or public transport.

Expert presentations, attractive workshops, unique solutions

Presentations and discussions were held on the three stages. There was talk about nZEB and passive houses, the experience of living in an energy efficient house, efficient windows and their correct installation, photovoltaic panels, heat pump ventilation systems, airtightness tests, roof waterproofing, roofs with sheet metal cladding, reed or green and vegetable layers and many, many other topics. One of the stages I also climbed on for the presentation on the durability of wood and treatments that make wood used in the load-bearing structures of houses or exterior projects last as long as possible. I enjoyed speaking to a visibly interested audience.

Ion Iosif, owner of the Lakefront House, documented by Wood Magazine from the house's foundation to receiving its Premium Passive House certification (see full video series here) presented on stage, in stages, his experience as a project manager building his own house. He also talked about the benefits of a Passive Premium house after almost 2 years of living in it. Ion says every time he is asked that he is very happy with his house, that it is exactly what he wanted and he would not change anything about it.

A pole of attraction was the one where Christian Rummel, together with two other carpenters dressed in traditional costume, organised a traditional carpentry workshop. Many people wanted to work with them. Together they built roof models of varying degrees of difficulty, doing pencil calculations directly on the wood, without specialised software. Around them were strategically placed suppliers of hand tools so they could be used whenever needed.

The much-publicised 3D printer has, as expected, attracted a lot of interest. The printer can make a wall 6 m long and 4.2 m high in 6 hours, and is operated by just two people, the operator and the person preparing the material. It can make whole walls, modules that can be used on the structure, and other objects such as street furniture. Magda Opriș, representing WOP 3D (World of Printing by aimedesign) - the company that brought the printer - is an inexhaustible source of information, and visitors took full advantage of it. And she was one of those left speechless on Sunday evening. The printed walls can also be attached to wooden structures providing insulation for the house, interior finish and ventilated facade. A video about the system will be available soon.

The pride and joy of being part of a group

At the closing of the event, on the main stage, there was a meeting and presentation of the teams that have participated over the years in the Solar Decathlon, the international competition of architecture and solar technology applied to construction. It is inspiring to see the joy of these young people to belong to a group that wants to change the construction field. What started with the Prispa project in 2012, has grown year by year with 4 other teams and projects attracting students and young builders eager for change.

They all took to the stage on Sunday to the applause of the community to say how much this competition has meant to them and how they want to continue to be part of the change. The construction field, which we knew in the past was cumbersome and lagging behind, is fundamentally changing thanks to the ongoing commitment and passion brought by these young people.

The gathering of this wonderful community, followed by the presence on stage of a hoarse but still energetic Marius, was a natural conclusion to an event that was an infusion of positive energy. Together with the other organisers, Șoflete thanked all those who were in the organising team and the participants of nZEB EXPO 2024 and extended an invitation to see us all again in Cluj from 1 to 3 November. He also said that he wished the fair to become the most important in Eastern Europe in time and that he sees the fair over 2 years taking place in both Romexpo pavilions (B1 and B2). As I know Marius, he's sure to make it this time too.

Congratulations to the organizers - șoflete.ro, The Concept and Event Builder! Congratulations Marius Șoflete, you are charismatic and inspirational! Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of a very well thought out and organized event!