Professional Conference: Building the Future – Construction, Materials, and Sustainability

Dlounge Complex, Kiryat Ata | Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 09:00–15:00

Designing the spaces and structures we inhabit has a profound impact on the human experience, but that is not all. Architecture, buildings, the spaces between them, and the materials that they are made of, also exert a massive influence on the world at large. From the extraction of raw materials, through the flow of stormwater and the lives of urban bird populations, to the eventual end-of-life of the structures, claddings, and furnishings that accompany us daily—every design, architectural, and material decisions that are being made by professionals in relevant fields, will resonate for many years, across various spheres.

In light of the triple planetary crisis linking climate change, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of pollution and waste, questions regarding the material lifecycle—where it comes from, how it behaves in the local climate, and what happens to it when it wears down or reaches the end of its life—are becoming increasingly important. The good news is that today, architects and interior designers have more power than ever to positively influence the future through smart material choices.

You are welcome to join my lecture on this coming Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the dlounge complex in Kiryat Ata, as part of the "Building the Future: Construction, Materials, and Sustainability" conference to learn more about what we can do to make a better future in construction, architecture and interior design. This is the third event in the Design & Beyond series, curated specifically for the architects and interior designers of the North.

Speakers:

Architect Kfir Vax, who will speak about local *terroir* in the architectural process—specifically how climate, landscape, materials, and local culture influence a structure.

Designer Esti Achimair, co-founder of the "Just a Second" organization, presenting on urban mining, reuse, and the circular economy.

A panel titled "From Container to Home: A Modular Construction Revolution," featuring Eldad Mittelman, Adi Zilberberg, Architect Eyal Yussinger, and Elad Elimelech from the company Contain.

Eran Carmi, founder of SHAHAF PY, presenting on autonomous concrete printers and construction-site robots.

I, Efrat Barak, will conclude the day with the lecture "Idea, Material, Space: Materials for Architecture and Construction" In this talk, I will present how material innovation addresses environmental challenges in architecture and construction, and explain how environmental design thinking can serve as a lens for evaluating new materials in the daily work of professionals in these fields.

Hope to see you there!

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