One focus of Professor Spars' work is on new forms of construction and the question of how affordable housing can be created under changed economic and ecological conditions. Among other things, Spars is currently focussing on serial, modular and systemic construction as a possible contribution to solving the housing issue.

"The housing issue is one of the key challenges facing many cities," emphasises Spars. "Serial and modular construction methods can help to make construction processes more efficient and shorten construction times. However, it is crucial that technical innovations are combined with suitable planning processes and political framework conditions. Approaches such as serial, modular and systemic construction are currently the subject of intense political debate as a possible answer to the housing shortage."

International findings: Housing supply in rapidly growing cities

During his research semester, Spars worked with scientists at the University of Cape Town and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, among others. There, he focussed on issues of affordable housing and innovative approaches to housing provision in fast-growing cities.

Especially in regions with strong population growth and increasing urbanisation, it is clear how urgently new and fast solutions for housing supply are needed. The international exchange opens up new perspectives for research and practice - also in a European context.

In addition to housing construction issues, Spars is also supporting the transformation processes in the property and construction industry with its expertise and upcoming studies and collaborations. Topics such as digitalisation, industrial prefabrication and circular construction are currently fundamentally changing how buildings are planned, produced and used. Cities in North Rhine-Westphalia are also increasingly faced with the question of how affordable housing can be created more quickly and sustainably.