208th Edition – Zak World of Façades Spain

Main Events 208th Edition – Zak World of Façades Spain

208th Edition – Zak World of Façades Spain

edition

208

Date

12 March 2026

Venue

Torre Glòries

City

Barcelona

Official page Watch the Event

About this edition

This will be the 208th edition globally and the 1st edition in Barcelona which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

Speakers & Panelists

Conference Agenda

Every speaker for the day, grouped by session. Select a topic to see who is presenting, the session focus and the talk points.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

08:00 — 08:50

Topic

Delegate Registration & Networking

Jordi Alcaine

Senior Façade Engineer

Arup

Topic

Event Convenor & Host

08:50 — 09:00

Topic

Welcome Address

09:00 — 09:25

Maria Buhigas San José

Chief Architect

Barcelona City Council

Topic

Blind Walls, Hidden Façades

09:25 — 09:50

Xavier Ferrés Padró

Managing Partner

Ferrés Arquitectos y Consultores

Topic

The Dimensions of the Technology

Talk points

Material and functional compatibility

Interfaces between constructive systems

Dimensional control and coordination

09:50 — 10:05

Sergi Vargas Torvisco

Responsable de prescripción – Zona Iberia

STACBOND

Topic

Ventilated Façades: Design, Efficiency and Sustainability

Talk points

Ventilated façade: What is it, advantages and benefits of the system

Aluminium composite panel: LEED and BREEAM certifications, recyclability

Industrialised construction, examples: Finishes, shapes and projects

10:05 — 10:15

Manuel Castro

Country Manager

Forster Sistemas de Perfiles

Topic

Designing Innovative and Sustainable Steel Façades

Talk points

Focused on aesthetics and historic renovations

Safety as a priority

Case study: Portal de la Pau, Barcelona

10:15 — 10:45

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

10:45 — 11:05

Miquel Rodriguez

Founder

xmade

Topic

Light and Mass

Talk points

Transparent and massive envelopes

From light to robust

11:05 — 11:25

Jesús Bona

Director Comercial España | Sales Manager Spain

Reynaers Aluminium

Topic

Building with Intentions: From Sustainable Design to Responsible Building Management

Talk points

Sustainability: From every angle

Case studies

Traceability in systems

11:25 — 11:55

Esteban de Backer

Partner

Marvel

Topic

Retrofitting the Existing: Catalunya Media City, Les Tres Xemeneies

Talk points

Dealing with the existing: Rethinking typologies

Adding to the existing: Complementing the character of the place

Improving the existing: Performance and sustainability

11:55 — 12:35

Moderator

Jordi Torres Quintana

Partner

Royth

Panelist

Albert Sagrera Cuscó

Partner

Societat Orgànica

Panelist

Jordi Vilà Alsina

Technical Director

Talleres Inox

Panelist

Luis Delgado

Senior Architect

Bjarke Ingels Group

Panelist

Maria Cedó

Co-founder

DOS54

Panelist

Pablo Garrido

Partner and Director of Technology

b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos

Topic

Façades in 21st Century Barcelona: Identity, Innovation and Sustainability for the Future

Talk points

Architectural Identity: A dialogue between Barcelona's architectural heritage and the new demands of the urban landscape

Innovation: Integration of innovative solutions within the existing urban fabric

Climate Commitment: Strategies for efficiency, decarbonization, and circularity

Session summary

Jordi Torres Quintana

12:35 — 13:35

Topic

Networking Lunch Break

13:35 — 13:55

Anna Lloret Papaseit

Associate Architect and Building Vice Director

Batlleiroig

Topic

Hotel Tower One: A Biophilic Building Connecting Users with Nature Through its Façade

Talk points

Green façades in high-rise buildings: Challenges and opportunities

Natural elements and fire safety in vertical envelopes

Wind impact on vertical envelopes: Designing safely and optimizing construction solutions

13:55 — 14:15

Enrique Goberna

Managing Director

Schlaich Bergermann Partner

Topic

Structures that Envelope

Talk points

Structural design approach for architectural envelopes

Applied examples.

Case study:Roig Arena.

14:15 — 14:25

Victor Fortanete

General Manager

Elval Colour Iberica

Topic

Façade Versatility with Aluminium Composite Panels

Talk points

Façade versatility with aluminium composite panels

Patterns, sharp edges and 3D shape buildings

Curved and perforated case studies

14:25 — 14:35

Eva Muñoz

Prescription and Business Development Manager

Guardian Glass

Juan Imaz

Prescription and Business Development Manager

Guardian Glass

Topic

Empowering Façade Design with Digital Tools

Talk points

Legacy insights: Applying lessons from the past

Why embracing AI in construction industry

Introducing to the technical evolution

14:35 — 14:45

Eva Arrieta Vergara

Directora Comercial

Lanik

Topic

From Complexity to Reality: Engineering and Manufacturing Unique Façades

Talk points

Geometry as a challenge

Technical solution

Precision in execution

14:45 — 14:55

Juan Grau Iglesias

Technical Director

Aluman

Topic

The Green Challenge

Talk points

Environmental impact of architectural envelopes from the industrialisation and manufacturing phase of systems

The role of industrialisation, innovation and sustainability as levers for decarbonisation in the sector

Current challenges and opportunities for reducing emissions throughout the process, from design to execution

14:55 — 15:25

Topic

Networking Tea / Coffee Break

15:25 — 15:45

Enrique Molinero

Associate and Head of the Sustainability Department

GCA Architects

Lars Sorensen

Senior Architect and Façade Specialist

GCA Architects

Topic

From Past to Future: Revitalizing Existing Buildings

Talk points

Responsible and timeless design

Spaces of comfort and well-being

Balance between creativity and constructive coherence

15:45 — 15:55

Jorge Peña

Head of Technical Support

Pladur Gypsum

Topic

Reinventing the Building's Skin: Evolution from Heavy Façades to Lightweight, Sustainable Envelopes

Talk points

Study of the evolution of façades in Spain

Significant reduction in weight, improving the carbon footprint

Technological advances in solutions, achieving better performance with reduced thickness and weight

15:55 — 16:40

Moderator

Miguel Ángel Núñez Díaz

Technical Director

ENAR

Panelist

Alexandre Dubor

Robotics Lab Director

IAAC

Panelist

Jorge Escribano Troncoso

Innovation Project Manager

Acciona

Panelist

Julen Astudillo Larraz

Senior Researcher

Technalia

Panelist

Meritxell Moyà Vilalta

Building Department Vice-Director

Batlleiroig

Panelist

Mr. Pepper (A Humanoid Social Robot)

Panelist

Xabier García Rodríguez

Managing Director

Inasus

Topic

Sayonara Workers!

Talk points

The future of robots will reach building façades

How robotization will affect construction and façades

Could robots be a solution to the shortage of skilled labor?

The manufacture of industrialized façades could be automated

Session summary

Miguel Ángel Núñez Díaz

16:40 — 16:45

Topic

Vote of Thanks & End of the Conference

16:45 — 17:45

Topic

Networking Reception

How it was

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Chapters

Partners

Presenting Partner

Associate Partners