Rediscovering Nature in Architecture

On May 31, 2025, Pannon Business Network, within the framework of the DECORATOR project, hosted a unique expert event at the Vas Open-Air Museum (Vasi Skanzen) in Szombathely, Hungary. Organized as part of the ÖkoPlusz Festival, the workshop focused on exploring the role of natural building materials—wood, clay, and hemp—in advancing sustainable construction aligned with New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles.

The event featured a two-part structure. In the morning, visitors participated in a social treasure hunt, engaging with traditional buildings while learning to evaluate them through the NEB lenses of sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics. In the afternoon, a professionally moderated expert roundtable brought together voices from architecture, academia, and industry to discuss the current and future roles of natural materials in ecological building.

Key speakers included Dr. Zoltán Hantos from the University of Sopron, an expert in wood engineering and building physics; Attila Bogdán, engineer and managing director of Platánplán, who introduced CLT-based ecological housing; and Ádám Bihari of NaturARCH Studio, a well-known advocate for vernacular and natural-material-based design. The discussion was moderated by Tamás Kovács of Falco Zrt., who brought both technical insight and facilitation experience to the table.

Alongside the core workshop activities, a strong public awareness and educational component was integrated into the festival. Visitors of the ÖkoPlusz marketplace had the opportunity to learn how timber demolition waste can be reused creatively, contributing to a more circular building culture. These informal interactions provided a valuable extension to the workshop’s more technical themes, reinforcing the message that sustainability begins with awareness and everyday action.

Participants of the workshop analyzed the technical, regulatory, and educational barriers to wider natural material use in Hungary, while also identifying concrete opportunities—such as wood-clay hybrid structures, breathable clay plasters (like those by Biokay), and the promising future of hempcrete construction, which already meets 2030 EU climate standards.

The event clearly demonstrated that wood, clay, and hemp are no longer alternatives, but necessities for a climate-conscious built environment. With a shared commitment to innovation rooted in tradition, the DECORATOR workshop in Szombathely proved that cross-sector collaboration can lead the way toward more sustainable, resilient, and beautiful architecture.