itke

FletcoLine: Smart architecture driven by AI - an active player in climate protection, has received the Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the „New Product“ category.

The Techtextil Innovation Award acknowledges pioneering contributions in textile technology, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and the advancement of technical textiles. The jury of experts selects the best innovations in seven categories where progressive ideas are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

For more information about the project, please visit our website:
https://www.itke.uni-stuttgart.de/research/built-projects/flectoline/

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠
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𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛
, , , , , .kraiburg, JanKnippersIngenieure
𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚
ZIM, FFG, BMWK, BMAW, BMW, MWK_BadenWuerttemberg

Image credits: Facade ©️ ITKE/ITFT University of Stuttgart - Award Ceremony ©️ Techtextil - Interview ©️ ITKE/ITFT University of Stuttgart

Bei Interesse bitte bei : [email protected] oder per DM melden.

Ⓒ Aus Heino Engel’s Tragsysteme

OPEN POSITION !

Doctoral Researcher (4 years) – starting April 1, 2026
Research Training Group “BioBuild – Bio-inspired Materials and Systems for Responsive Building Components.” (DFG-funded)

We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral researcher (m/f/d) for a full-time PhD position (E 13 TV-L, 100%) with a duration of four years. The position includes full support toward obtaining a doctoral degree.

The PhD position is embedded in the DFG-funded Research Training Group (RTG) “BioBuild – Bio-inspired Materials and Systems for Responsive Building Components.” The successful candidate will work within an interdisciplinary research environment and collaborate closely with architects, engineers, biologists, and chemists at the University of Stuttgart and the University of Freiburg. The research focuses on the conception, development, and evaluation of bio-inspired responsive building envelope systems.

Your Profile
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a closely related field
Strong background in façade engineering, environmental simulation, and digital fabrication
Interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of architecture, engineering, and biology
Experience in design or engineering offices is considered an advantage
Very good command of English; knowledge of German is beneficial but not required

What We Offer
A fully funded 4-year PhD position within a structured doctoral training program
Close supervision and mentoring within an internationally visible research group
Access to excellent research infrastructure and fabrication facilities
A dynamic, collaborative, and interdisciplinary academic environment

Application
Please submit your application as a single PDF file (max. 15 MB) by
February 10, 2026 to: [email protected]
For further information or informal inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How can building façades adapt to the weather as elegantly as a pinecone?

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation is funding a new Research Training Group “BioBuild – Bio-inspired Materials and Systems for Responsive Building Components” at the Universities of Stuttgart and Freiburg with 7.1 million euros.

Over the next five years, 20 doctoral researchers will explore how smart materials and mechanisms can make building envelopes react autonomously to sun, temperature and humidity – and thus cut energy use in building operation.

The new Research Training Group is jointly led by Prof. Jan Knippers ( , Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE)) and Prof. Jürgen Rühe (IMTEK, ). It builds on a long-standing collaboration in bio-inspired and responsive architecture and combines expertise from the and Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS).

We are happy to share a video showing the fabrication of five biocomposite tailored facade panels developed during the winter semester of 2021/2022.

https://vimeo.com/718378102



Five different concepts of biocomposite facade panels were developed by using an additive 2D process (so-called Tailored Fibre Placement) where natural fibers were deposited according to design, fabrication method, and required structural performance. The entire process from the design to fabrication was done within one semester. This included: Design of panels and their functional concept, computational designed 2D fiber pattern, design and development of moulding/forming methods with a focus on adaptivity and reusability, binder vacuum-assisted infusion/impregnation, integration of soft or hard actuators, design and development of supporting structure, and robotic assembly. Each concept was presented on a frame with various widths (100-140cm) and a height of 220 cm.

Shading panels
Six panels were computationally designed based on solar radiation which defined fiber patterns and shapes. Panels get into the final shape by stretching a front surface over a frame from balsa and flax fibers. The final pattern was adapted to a customized gripper installed on a cooperative robotic arm which was used to assemble on supporting structure. Each panel covers ca 0,43 m2 and weighs around 2kg.

Sandwich panels
These panels were focused on acoustic absorption and adaptive moulding. Panels from flax fibers and non-woven flax fabric integrated air tubes which were inflated and constrained by tailored fiber patterns which gave to panels a folded-like structure. Each panel had ca 0,27 m2 and a weight of ca. 2 kg. All eighteen panels used an adaptive curing frame allowing fabrication of different shapes. A special gripper was developed for assembly by a cooperative robot.

Adaptive panels
This concept integrated shape memory alloy (Nitinol) as a compliant actuator for opening and closing shading panels. Into each biocomposite panel, flexible hinges were tailored allowing a folding similar to an umbrella. Panels were controlled via smartphone and light sensors Panels were carried by biocomposite pultruded profiles. Each panel weighs only 0,2 kg and covers a size of 0,19m2.

Chitosan panels
These panels experimentally applied chitosan as a more ecological alternative to resin binders for Biocomposites. Flax fibers were tailored on a jute textile their pattern was computationally generated based on principle stress lines. Chitosan is a polysaccharide made by treating the chitin shells of shrimp and other crustaceans. Each panel had a hexagonal shape with a radius of 25 cm and a weight of ca. 0,1 kg.

Rotating panel
It is a shading element that by rotation optimizes sunrays in the interior. The entire system consisted of eight lightweight biocomposite fins combining flax fibers with glass fiber textile. Each fin inspired by the dragonfly wing weighs only around 50 g. Together with the entire gear system, the element (1,2 m in diameter) weight is around 7kg.

Realization: 10/2021– 02/2022
Department: BioMat at ITKE, Uni Stuttgart
Supervisor: Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy
Tutors: Dr. Jan Petrš with great support from Benjamin Grisin, Paulina Grabowska, Evgenia Spyridonos, and Asmaa Hasan

Students WS21 (Design studio: Digital Design and Fabrication of Biocomposite Facade Panels):
Siegrid Daniela Viersbach Gordillo, Julian Schwarzenbacher, Mai Thi Nguyen, Ginster Bauer, Amay Shah, Hanna Labanava, Shuangying Xu, Petrit Isai, Niklas Dietrich, Daniel Pauli, Jonas Gorges, Kristian Fisinski, Alina Boss, Anton Kussinna, Erlin Gjolla, Florian Rebmann, Leonard Rieck, Ela Kmita, Vanessa Erb, Johanna Abheiden

Students Scientific Assistant: Matay Kaplan

Cooperation (Composites):
Institute of Aircraft Design, Uni. Stuttgart - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Middendorf, Dr. Stefan Carosella, Dipl.-Ing. Benjamin Grisin

Cooperation (Chitosan):
Institute of Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology, Uni. Stuttgart - Dr. Linus Stegbauer, Dr. Amrita Rath

Cooperation (Quality control):
Institute of Engineering Geodesy, Uni. Stuttgart - Prof. Dr. Ing. Volker Schwieger, M. Sc. Laura Balange, Dipl.-Ing. Lyudmila Gorokhova

Cooperation (Acoustics):
Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics, Uni. Stuttgart -Prof. Dr.-Ing. Philip Leistner, Dipl.-Ing. Eva Veres

Cooperation (Facades):
Schüco, Prof. Daniel Arztmann

Tech. Support:
M. Sc. Sergej Klassen, M. Sc. Kai Stiefenhofer, M. Eng. Aleksa Arsic

Photos: Masih Imani
Video: Jan Petrš

Financial support:
EXC 2120: Cluster of Excellence IntCDC project by German Research Foundation (DFG) within RP(06).

Music: Lloyd Rodgers - Gifts of Stars (Act II) - freemusicarchive. org Licence: (Public Domain Mark 1.0)

Biocomposite Tailored Facades 2022 Since resource-intensive materials like steel, concrete, etc. are still predominantly used in the building industry, different emerging technologies and materials…

Today, Prof. Dahy participates in a discussion "Bauen ohne Beton? Wann kommt der Richtungswechsel im Bausektor?"from 7 p.m. at Herrenhäuser Forum, Xplanatorium Herrenhausen, Hanover

The event can be also watched online under this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGOT44AhCdA

More about here:
https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/veranstaltungen/veranstaltungskalender/herrenh%C3%A4user-forum/bauen-ohne-beton-wann-kommt-der-richtungswechsel-im-bausektor

Bauen ohne Beton? Wann kommt der Richtungswechsel im Bausektor? Rohstoffknappheit, Schadstoffemissionen, Abfalllast: Wie ein dringend notwendiges Umdenken im Bausektor gelingen kann, darüber diskutieren Expert:innen beim Herrenhäuser Forum am 22. Februar.