“Form & Energy”: Energy-efficient, innovative architectural design from Austria presented in Croatia
Zagreb, 25 April 2012 – On 24 April, Ambassador Ikic Böhm and the Croatian Assistant Minister for Energy Efficiency Ana Pavi?i?-Kaselj opened the exhibition “Form & Energy” Energy Efficient Architecture in_from Austria” in the presence of high-ranking representatives from Croatian politics, science and the arts and numerous experts from the field of architecture and civil engineering. The exhibition is shown in the Zagreb Glyptotheque.
The exhibition, initiated by the director of the Austrian Cultural Forum Zagreb, Georg Lack, presents a selection of pioneering, energy-efficient building projects of renowned Austrian architects and focuses on the considerate handling of natural resources that is currently in the centre of energy-political and architectural development worldwide. Minister Pavi?i?-Kaselj described energy efficiency as a “focal area of Croatian government policy”.
In her opening address, Ambassador Ikic-Böhm stressed the great importance of energy-efficient architecture given the costliness of energy carriers. “I am proud that Austrian architects are playing a pioneering role with the innovative construction methods employed in numerous ecologically sustainable building projects that are attracting worldwide attention and appreciation.” She also stressed the importance of using wood in all areas of life, an issue that is especially interesting for countries with large wooded areas, such as Croatia.
University Professor Andreas Lichtblau, architect and head of the department of urban planning at Graz University of Technology, held the keynote speech, introducing the widely noticed travelling exhibition that was curated by the prominent Austrian architectural experts Adolph Stiller and Otto Kapfinger on behalf of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.
A technical seminar on energy-efficient building was held as an introduction to the exhibition on 24 April. The seminar met with great interest and was attended by some 130 experts from Austria and Croatia. The seminar was organized by the Embassy’s attaché for environmental matters, Christian Brawenz, in cooperation with the Styrian Timber Cluster, Seewood and other partners and revolved mainly around European energy efficiency policies and innovative examples of energy-efficient construction in Austria.
The great interest in both events on energy-efficiency once again illustrates the close cooperation between Austria and Croatia in current topics. The exhibition is open until 16 May.
Contact:
Federal Ministry for
European and International Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
mailto:abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at
