Sounding Board

Exploring novel ideas

The Sounding Board format provides start-ups, academics, researchers, and architects with an agile platform to receive peer feedback on their novel ideas that challenge conventional building practices. As a global initiative of the Holcim Foundation, the Sounding Board will be held in locations around the world to enable down-to-earth knowledge sharing and shed light on diverse approaches.

At the Sounding Board, each speaker presents a ten-minute “TED-style” that is delivered in-person to a panel of experts and in-house audience on fresh ideas that have the potential to transform the building sector at scale. The presentations are shared online with the Holcim Foundation global network who are encouraged to provide feedback – thereby enabling the exchange of ideas, amplification of innovation, and accelerating the implementation of cutting-edge best practice.

Sounding Board Berlin

October 24, 2023

Berlin, Germany

Discover the latest technologies that are transforming construction and connect with like-minded professionals:

Oliver von Malm, Founder & Director, Start Somewhere
Max Rudolph, Co-Founder, Form Follows You
Dominik Campanella, Co-Founder and CEO, Concular
Alexander Happ, Alexander Happ Managing Director and Founder, Assiduus³

Sounding Board Berlin

Sounding Board Rotterdam

June 19, 2023

Rotterdam, Netherlands

This in-person featured four incredible speakers who presented their cutting-edge ideas for sustainable construction.

Matteo Baldassari, Founder and CEO, Concr3de
Nadia Fani, Founder and CEO, Coastruction
Marvin Henry, Senior Manager Avoided Emissions, WBCSD
Friso Klapwijk, Global Director Urban Climate Resilience, Wavin

Sounding Board Rotterdam

Sounding Board Zurich

March 7, 2023

Zurich, Switzerland

At the first Sounding Board, three speakers presented their cutting-edge ideas on material-efficient construction, re-use beyond recycling, and fabrication-aware generative design. These ideas were then challenged and put to the test by three industry experts.

Sounding Board Zurich

Sounding Board Rotterdam

At the Sounding Board Rotterdam, Marvin Henry, Senior Manager Avoided Emissions at the WBCSD and former doctoral researcher at Utrecht University presented an analysis of the systemic role of startups for circular innovation.
Sounding Board Rotterdam

At the Sounding Board Rotterdam, Friso Klapwijk, Global Director Urban Climate Resilience at Wavin explained how a roofing system he has developed helps to harvest rainwater and consider water as a valuable resource from the first drop of rain to the final runoff – with hydrological, thermal, and environmental benefits.d
Sounding Board Zurich

At the first Sounding Board, three speakers presented their cutting-edge ideas on material-efficient construction, re-use beyond recycling, and fabrication-aware generative design.