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| BAU sets a new record for the second time in a row  BAU 2009 attracted 211,000 visitors, which is another new record for the event. In the exhibition halls there was very little sign of the financial and economic crisis – this was the almost unanimous view of the exhibitors. "Nobody is complaining, instead they are all looking firmly towards the future." The visitors came from all over the world, 36,000 of them from 151 countries outside Germany. On the fourth and fifth days of the fair in particular the halls were thronged with visitors, the stands were packed full and the corridors and gangways crowded. Many of the exhibitors reported a veritable rush of visitors to their stands: "We were virtually overrun with visitors." 2009 has turned out to be the best year ever in BAU´s over 40-year history.1,924 exhibitors from 42 countries took part in this six-day event, which is Europe´s most important trade fair for architecture, materials and systems. Well ahead of the fair – one whole year before it started – the 180,000 m² of space earmarked for the event was virtually fully booked. Most of the visitors came from Germany, followed by Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Iran, France and Turkey. Attendance by visitors from outside Europe, from countries such as China and Japan, was also above-average. The 'Future of Building' and 'MacroArchitecture' Forums proved to be real magnets for the visitors. In particular the 'Future of Building' Forum at times resembled an overfilled lecture hall at university, with the audience hanging on every word of the speaker. Leading international architects such as Volkwin Marg, Stefan Behnisch, Michael Zimmermann, Eckhard Gerber and Françoise Hélène Jourda gave lectures here on themes that included 'Mega cities, ' 'Energy and architecture, ' 'Living today and tomorrow'. Outstanding themes at BAU were energy-efficient and sustainable building. A congress on these themes, entitled 'Sustainable and energy-efficient building for the future', organised by the German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS), attracted 1,200 participants. BAU also hosted a range of award ceremonies, among them the renowned architectural award for 'Aesthetics and Construction', in cooperation with the trade journal DETAIL, and the 1:1 Award for 'The First House', in cooperation with the trade journal Bauwelt. BAU 2011 takes place from 17 to 22 January 2011 at the New Munich Exhibition Centre. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |