What's new at Klimahouse 2026 - and why it's worth being there

Sustainability has become a word so overused that it is in danger of losing its meaning. But what happens when Europe's biggest trade fair for responsible construction decides to put a nagging question on the table: is sustainability a right or is it slowly becoming a privilege?

Klimahouse 2026, now in its 21st year, will transform the Bolzano exhibition center into a laboratory of ideas and solutions from January 28-31. More than 400 exhibitors and some 36,000 visitors are expected to explore the most advanced technologies for energy efficiency, thermal insulation, photovoltaics and building automation.

South Tyrol is not by chance the host for this event. The autonomous region in northern Italy is a European pioneer in energy performance certification of buildings. The CasaClima system (KlimaHaus in German) was set up here in 2002 and has so far certified more than 18,000 new buildings and renovation projects. CasaClima has become a reference standard for the whole of Italy and is influencing building practices across Europe.

Assembly, not construction

The press conference to launch the 2026 edition took place at the AMDL Circle studio in Milan, where architect Davide Angeli perfectly summarized the direction of the construction sector: “assemblare, non costruire” - assembling, not building. In a European context in which built space is reaching saturation levels in many urban areas, the most responsible gesture might be not to add new volumes, but to rethink what already exists.

Thomas Mur, director of Fiera Bolzano, emphasizes that the transformations in the sector offer a strategic opportunity to redefine an architectural model capable of integrating sustainability as a fundamental principle of contemporary living.

Future Hub: 20 game-changing startups

The Klimahouse Future Hub, realized in collaboration with PoliHub - the startup accelerator of the Polytechnic University of Milan - will host 20 emerging companies, divided into two categories: Early stage for prototypes and Late stage for solutions already on the market.

The five areas covered say a lot about where the industry is heading: innovative building materials (including modular systems and photocatalytic materials for pollutant degradation), renewables and energy storage, circular solutions that turn construction waste into design resources, digital solutions based on artificial intelligence and blockchain, and IoT technologies for building sanitation.

The competition will culminate on January 30 with the Klimahouse Startup Contest, where the six best projects will compete for prizes that include specialized mentoring and booth participation at Klimahouse 2027.

Wood Architecture Prize: almost 100 projects and an all-time record

The fourth edition of the Wood Architecture Prize, the only Italian national prize entirely dedicated to architecture in wood, has seen almost 100 entries - a record showing the growing interest in wood as a building material.

“Viva il legno - il legno vive!” said Manuel Benedikter, president of the jury, pointing out that 12 finalists were selected from the 100 projects submitted, ranging from temporary architectures and single-family residences to large-scale public buildings.

Finalists include the Accademia Carrara extension in Bergamo, designed by Antonio Ravalli Architetti with INOUTarchitettura, and Punto Luce Gallaratese in Milan. The winners will be announced on January 29 at the awards ceremony on the Klimahouse Stage.

In the first three editions, the prize has capitalized on 9 winning projects and 10 special mentions, giving visibility to works that have subsequently gained recognition in other competitions.

Klimahouse Congress: sustainability as a right, not a luxury

On 30 and 31 January, MEC - Meeting & Event Center Alto Adige will host the Klimahouse Congress 2026, with a challenging theme: is sustainability still an affordable priority for all?

Eight experts of international caliber will approach this question from different perspectives. Invited guests include Diana Schaffrannek from David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, architect Milena Karanesheva-Witzmann from KARAWITZ Architecture Paris and Swede Oskar Norelius from White Arkitekter, who will bring concrete experiences on financial models and equity in access to sustainable construction.

The first day of the congress will be moderated by architect and professor Chiara Tonelli, with the participation of Stefan Brunnhuber and Thomas Auer from the Technical University of Munich.

Klimahouse Tours: five itineraries through the heart of sustainable architecture

One of the highlights of Klimahouse remains the guided tours organized in collaboration with the Alto Adige Architecture Foundation. The 2026 edition proposes five themed trails that take visitors directly inside CasaClima certified projects, offering an immersive and formative experience that complements the exhibition offer in the pavilion.

Valorization of historical farms in Alto Adige (Wednesday, January 28, 13:30-18:00) opens the series with two interventions demonstrating how built heritage can be regenerated without losing its identity. In Laion, participants will visit Oberbuchfelder, a 16th-century agricultural courtyard under monumental protection, restored by Raum Drei Architekten in a subtle dialog between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary architectural language. In Nalles, the Grieserhof Agriturismo (Studio plan_ar, architect Christa Mair) shows how light can become the key element in the conversion of the attic of a historic farmhouse into a living space.

Build with your own wood (Thursday, January 29, 8:00-13:30) explores the short supply of local wood. Bergmeisterwolf's Rappersbühl farmhouse on the Renon, by Bergmeisterwolf, uses only local materials for its structure, facades and interiors. In Val Gardena, a multi-family house by Mahlknecht-Comploi Architetti in Val Gardena demonstrates that it is possible to build entirely from local wood, without adhesives, with a high degree of energy self-sufficiency.

Sustainability and art in production spaces (Friday, January 30, 8:00-13:30) redefines industrial architecture. The new Würth Italia offices in Egna (Troyer-Vonmetz Architetti) integrate logistics, urban spaces and energy performance into an organic design. In Bressanone, Barth [b]art[h] Halle 3 (AKT.studio) transforms a former industrial hall into an aggregation space that combines craftsmanship, architecture and art, including a private gallery.

Welcoming and comfortable education spaces (Friday, January 30, 13:45-18:00) presents two exemplary school buildings. The primary school and kindergarten in Riffiano (Höller & Klotzner Architetti) is the first building in the province of Bolzano to be certified “KlimaHaus School”, with high-performance insulation, controlled ventilation, rainwater harvesting and photovoltaics. The kindergarten in Lagundo (Feld72), winner of the Wood Architecture Prize 2025, is a solid wood extension without adhesives, centered on the community and pedagogical dimension.

Useful and convivial spaces in well-insulated envelopes (Saturday, January 31, 8:30am-2pm) concludes the series with two civic infrastructure projects. The Foiana multi-purpose hall (Kollektiv null17) brings together a recycling center, fire station and event spaces in a compact construction with high-performance envelope and geothermal system. The new Vezzano volunteer fire station articulates three volumes that converge towards the tower, using dark bricks that echo the local building tradition.

Participation in the tours helps the professional training of architects registered with the Order of Architects of Bolzano. The cost of a tour is 50 euro.

Südtirol@Klimahouse: a new platform for local entrepreneurs

New for the 2026 edition is Südtirol@Klimahouse, a platform dedicated to the entrepreneurial culture of South Tyrolean leaders, hosted in H1 Eventspace, the inner courtyard of the exhibition center. The exhibition “Alps. Architecture. South Tyrol”, curated by Kunst Meran.

Klimahouse 2026 runs from January 28-31 at Fiera Bolzano. Program: 9:00-18:00. Information and tickets: klimahouse.co.uk