
Above is an example of a timber gridshell. This structure has been designed and fabricated by the team of Dr. Christopher Robeller, who is currently overseeing new timber fabrication facilities and reversible wood-wood joints at Technische Hochschule Augsburg.
EstraHub is the umbrella organisation for three subgroups that aim to facilitate a transition to a built environment that is more regenerative and resource efficient.
Estrategia in Spanish = Strategy in English, so EstraHub = Strategy Hub
All three subgroups work together as one team to further complementary objectives, including those summarised below.
EstraHub Objectives
EstraHub brings together collaborators and the three Estra subgroups to develop a range of ecological initiatives for the built environment, including engagement with Horizon Europe R&D funding. This is to improve the way in which our buildings and infrastructure are created, to better support climate justice and ecosystem wellbeing. Through international collaboration we are already working on sites in a diverse range of locations including Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Istanbul, Ukraine, New Zealand and the UK. We are also developing strategies to improve equality for the global south and vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on partnerships between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Our aims are centered around the following three key objectives:
Enable regenerative co-creation
Enable the development of regenerative strategies for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience in the built environment. EstraHub works to prevent harm to the environment, although we favour strategies that have a positive impact on ecosystems. We follow a collaborative co-creation ethos, working with a broad range of disciplines including academics, scientists, technology developers, entrepreneurs, laypeople, designers, consultants and government officials. We would normally work with other design consultants to enhance and optimise their projects. For example, in a large retrofit / renovation project, we can focus on one aspect (such as the windows, skylights, Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV), PhotoVoltaic Thermal panels (PVT) or elements made from clay, stone or biobased materials). We work on R&D projects (such as those funded by Horizon Europe) where international collaboration overcomes scientific and technological uncertainties and improves the way in which we create the built environment. The way in which we work depends on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Between TRL 1 and TRL 5 our focus is on facilitating concept definition, visualising applications of technology and developing roadmaps for commercialisation and upscaling. Around TRL 5 we facilitate the validation process (e.g. new technologies demonstrated within a pavilion or a small part of a renovation / retrofit project). From TRL 6 to TRL 9 our main focus would be demonstration within operational environments.
EU definition of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) PDF download.
Facilitate education, training and citizen science processes
Although we value scientific development within R&D projects, a crucial part of technology development is social engagement, because how people think about and use their spaces has a significant impact on how efficient or effective our built environment actually is. Therefore we facilitate co-design, training and citizen science processes that place laypeople from the local community at the heart of development processes.
For the challenges that architecture faces today, some of the most effective solutions have their roots in traditional building techniques. For example, the properties of clay and stone or biobased materials such as wood and bamboo have significant potential to be more fully exploited, or developed in conjunction with the latest technological advances. Although these types of materials may often be associated with vernacular buildings, the reality is that there is increasing recognition that these materials can play a part in large-scale industrialised construction systems, and can be used to contribute to a range of aesthetic types, including minimalist designs.
The education of recent generations of built environment professionals has often lacked empirical teaching on the properties of traditional building techniques. Therefore, EstraHub includes within education aims the need to communicate the Intangible Cultural Heritage that is the wisdom found in traditional building techniques, so that it can be passed to future generations. EstraHub takes this as a basis for sustainable development. For example, ancient techniques for joining timber without steel or adhesive can be developed in conjunction with digital techniques to enable reversible joints in new biobased materials, such as products derived from hemp, sisal, miscanthus, flax, mycelium or aquaculture etc.
Clay and stone both have excellent circularity credentials, and can contribute to passive strategies for thermal comfort due to their thermal mass. Each have specific properties that can allow excellent performance: Clay helps to stabilise humidity inside buildings – avoiding extremes of humidity is good for the wellbeing of occupants and the building itself. Stone often has high compressive strength, which allows for optimal compression-only structures via the latest advances in digital modelling, or in combination with advances in steel manufacturing to create pre-tensioned / post-tensioned structural elements.
As such, these materials are now being developed for use in more industrialised systems so that they can be more easily integrated with steel and concrete site processes or prefabrication. Clay, stone and biobased materials are relatively accessible to lay-people, and as such represent opportunities for entrepreneurs in the local community. Both the industrialised prefabrication strategy and the localised community approach are within our scope.
EstraHub recognises the ability of data to progress science and also assist education and citizen science processes. We use Building Information Modelling (BIM) as our default process for the design, coordination and implementation of projects. BIM can serve as a basis for digital twins and other data visualisation techniques that can be used to clarify for experts and laypeople how the performance of buildings and infrastructure can be understood during co-design, construction, commissioning and post-occupancy evaluation.
We collaborate with digital specialists in order to progress digital tools and workflows. This is done in alignment with The Cultural Heritage Cloud – or “European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage” (ECCCH), which is a European Union initiative for the creation of a digital infrastructure that will connect cultural heritage institutions and professionals across the EU. It will develop specific digital collaborative tools while removing barriers for smaller and remote institutions. We have also initiated discussion with the European Space Agency on interfacing with their Destination Earth initiative (DestinE), which aims to agglomerate digital twins to form an overall digital twin assembly of the entire planet. We have discussed with the ESA our aims to integratate data from a number of 4D digital twins developed with our collaborators, in order to further goals for climate neutrality, resource efficiencies and ecosystem wellbeing.
Establish Innovation Hubs
EstraHub is taking the first steps to establish Innovation Hubs that will act as centres of excellence for co-working, training and knowledge exchange amongst innovators and actors within built environment value chains.
Each Innovation Hub will include an archive / library, lecture theatres and spaces for events / exhibitions to support our wider educational objectives. These hubs will share resources with other organisations, such as conference facilities and workshop spaces for prototyping and testing.
As wellbeing and resilience is a key criterion, the first hub will be sited adjacent to agricultural land where innovations in organic / bio agriculture will be demonstrated. Residues from these will be combined with biomass from nearby marginal land (not suitable for food production) to enable the prototyping and production of biobased materials. The hubs will develop and demonstrate techniques for resource efficiency and environmental wellbeing, including Renewable Energy Systems, energy storage and water systems.
Each Innovation Hub will also act as a Living Lab to test and validate innovative techniques for the adaptation of buildings. By demonstrating new materials, techniques and technologies within the renovation process, visitors will be able to better understand the diversity of passive and active techniques available for building retrofit and construction.
Want to get involved? If so, you would be welcome to review our services or contact us to discuss.
Horizon Europe topics
We are interested in the following Horizon Europe topics. If you would like to discuss please get in touch with us via our Contact page.
September 2026 deadlines:
Researching the technical, social & economic factors impacting the energy performance of Smart Buildings (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-01
Low disturbance prefabrication approaches for deep renovation of multi-storey buildings (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-02
Advanced data platforms to integrate whole life carbon in building information tools, assessments, and certification (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-03
Validating policies and business models for affordable and sustainable housing (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-04
Demonstrating solutions to protect and preserve cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change
HORIZON-MISS-2026-01-CLIMA-05
Strengthening national frameworks for renewable and efficient heating and cooling in existing buildings
LIFE-2026-CET-RENEWHC
Supporting post-conflict democracy and reconstruction
HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-07
BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition
LIFE-2026-CET-BUILDSKILLS
Energy renovation solutions – Boosting building renovation through effective markets and instruments
LIFE-2026-CET-BETTERRENO
One-Stop-Shops - Integrated services for clean energy transition in private buildings
LIFE-2026-CET-OSS
October 2026 deadlines:
Transition to low-temperature heating solutions in multi-apartment buildings
HORIZON-MISS-2026-04-CIT-02
Introducing circular economy models in the construction sector, from buildings to city scale
HORIZON-MISS-2026-04-CIT-NEB-B4P-CCRI-03
HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-06: Increasing competitiveness and resilience of multimodal freight transport and logistics for competitive supply chains
HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-10: Enhanced resilience in multimodal passenger transport through digital technologies and generative and discriminative AI
Co-funded European Partnership for Social Transformations and Resilience
HORIZON-CL2-2026-02-TRANSFO-01
December 2026 deadlines:
Sustainable, inclusive, affordable and beautiful solutions for thermal comfort in buildings
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01
Approaches to reuse vacant, obsolete or underutilised spaces
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03
Innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-03
Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02
Advancing sustainable maintenance and repair measures for existing buildings
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02
Improved system design for innovative PV applications (EUPI-PV Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-14
February 2027 deadlines:
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02: Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA) (Made in Europe partnership)
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06: Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships)
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49: ‘Proof of market’ to improve valorisation and commercialisation of Horizon generated R&I results (IA)
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61: Fast Track to Research and Innovation for breakthroughs in industrial technologies (Research and Innovation Action)
March 2027 deadlines:
Next generation scenarios for informing climate and sustainability transitions
HORIZON-CL5-2027-01-D1-13
Excellence Hubs
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-04-WIDENING-01
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07: Concentrated solar thermal systems for decarbonising industrial processes
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-09: Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wave and tidal energy systems
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-10: Renewable Energy Valleys in Africa to increase energy security and energy access in Africa
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-15: Production technologies for solar photovoltaics beyond the state-of-the-art (EUPI-PV Partnership)
Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)
HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02
April 2027 deadlines:
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage: Open topic: Using the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative to strengthen urban manufacturing in support of the Clean Industrial Deal
HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01-two-stage: Open topic: Innovative solutions for the European Water Resilience Strategy
Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic)
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage
May 2027 deadlines:
Open topic: Impact-driven research on realising the full potential of cultural heritage, arts and cultural and creative industries
HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-HERITAGE-09-two-stage
September 2027 deadlines:
Integrating circularity in LCA-based modelling frameworks for renovation of buildings (Built4People Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-07
Thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery of high energy demand IT rooms in buildings or small edge data centres
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-06
Impact of access to nature-positive environments in promoting social cohesion and reducing inequalities in urban and peri-urban settings
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-01
Demonstrating transformative solutions to increase cross-border climate resilience
HORIZON-MISS-2027-01-CLIMA-01
HORIZON-MISS-2027-07-CLIMA-CIT-NEB-01: Urban nature: supporting restoration of urban ecosystems, along urban transport networks and in the built environment
Green, circular and resilient harbours
HORIZON-MISS-2027-03-OCEAN-03
Towards a Europe of Bioeconomy Places
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-06
Living Labs for the eradication and/or management of invasive alien species
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-04
Accelerating the transition to a nature positive economy: Integrating biodiversity into the private sector
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-05
Developing effective air quality planning strategies through innovative multi-scale modelling
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02
Europe-wide environmental benchmarking system of the industrial bioeconomy sectors
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04
On-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and new construction
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-05
Impact of access to nature-positive environments in promoting social cohesion and reducing inequalities in urban and peri-urban settings
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-01
Culture, heritage and creative industries for health and well-being
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-04
Safeguarding & transmission of intangible cultural heritage
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-08
Societal impact of cultural heritage
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-07
Crafting routes to a circular economy
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-03
Towards a consolidated culture and creativity driven European innovation ecosystem
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-01
From lab to market: Strengthening the role of Technology Transfer Offices in bringing knowledge to the market
HORIZON-EIE-2026-03-CONNECT-01
Enhancing the involvement of philanthropic organisations in innovation ecosystems
HORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-03
Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement
HORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-02
October 2027 deadlines:
HORIZON-MISS-2027-04-CIT-01: Innovative microgrids for improved energy system integration and efficiency in urban contexts
HORIZON-MISS-2027-04-CIT-03: Inclusive and climate resilient multimodal passenger hubs enhancing modal shift towards sustainable transport and shared mobility
HORIZON-MISS-2027-04-CIT-CCRI-04: Advancing circular logistics solutions in cities
HORIZON-MISS-2027-04-CIT-05: Boosting the transformation towards climate-neutral cities, the net-zero economy and open strategic autonomy through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-06-D6-08: Enhancing Mobility for All: affordable, reliable, and accessible multimodal transport for inclusive rural and urban connectivity – Societal Readiness pilot
December 2027 deadlines:
Novel combinations of knowledge and research methods to address social issues and advance a fair green transition of neighbourhoods
HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-PARTICIPATION-03
Combining conventional and innovative construction materials, products and techniques for sustainable and beautiful buildings
HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-REGEN-01
Mass customisation of offsite manufactured modular construction components to transform the existing built environment
HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-BUSINESS-01
Innovative models for collective community investment and ownership
HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-BUSINESS-02
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-17: PV based electrification of the economy: Designing & optimising PV systems supporting industrial electrification and promoting participation in electricity markets (EUPI-PV Partnership)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-27: Integrated Approaches for Retrofitting Infrastructures with Innovative Energy Storage Technologies






