BUWOG Blog

There is another bonus episode for the finale of the 11th season of GLÜCKLICH WOHNEN – the BUWOG podcast. In it, selected topics from the year are explored in depth, reflected upon and placed in context. The guest is Daniel Riedl, member of Vonovia’s management board responsible for BUWOG’s operations in Austria and development in Germany.

Over 70 episodes have been released on the BUWOG podcast thus far. From sponge cities to urban density, from ESG to the circular economy. As we conclude the 11th season, we look back on the most fascinating topics of the year.

A highlight from the outset: BUWOG was named Developer of the Year at the ImmoAward 2025. Daniel Riedl: “It isn’t possible to apply for this award, which is what makes it so special, as it is based on a customer vote and the judgement of an independent jury of experts – a special boost for the entire BUWOG team!”

Focus on people

The podcast also regularly covers new topics and findings, or those that are surprising in the context of traditional real estate. For example, episode 53 covers the topic of “the emotional city”. The guest on the show is stress researcher Prof. Dr. Mazda Adli, who conducts research at Charité on the topic of neuro-urbanism, i.e. how urban living spaces affect our psyche. In the interview, he describes findings from neuro-urbanistics and gives tips on how urban planning and architecture can reduce urban stress and strengthen mental well-being.

Quality of experience: promenade, water basin, play areas at BUWOG’s 52° Nord development.

“A highly important topic,” Daniel Riedl points out. “It’s no coincidence that BUWOG’s motto is HAPPY LIVING, which means that people and their needs have always been our focus. With our new buildings and developments, we bear responsibility for neighbourhoods that succeed. We plan accompanying spaces, parks, areas for socialising, playgrounds, and promenades where people can meet and interact with one other.” These are qualities that also counteract loneliness, an effect that Prof. Adli described in the interview as isolation stress.

A good example of what this can look like is the 52° Nord development in Berlin Grünau, which has just been awarded the German Sustainable Building Council’s certificate in gold. The final construction phase has begun here: BUWOG DAHMEGLANZ.

The topic of affordability and, in particular, the opportunities offered by serial, systemic and modular construction were also discussed on a number of occasions in the podcast. Business and politics are pinning their hopes on Building Type E to lower the costs of construction and thereby housing itself. On the subject of Building Type E, episode 54 features expert Theresa Keilhacker, freelance architect and president of the Berlin Chamber of Architects. What is the potential of Building Type E, what are the advantages of simple construction, and which standards of comfort can be reduced? This is a fiercely debated topic at the moment. Keilhacker estimates the potential savings at around 20 percent if construction were to be carried out less “according to the gold standard”.

Affordability remains the paramount issue

“Policymakers have delivered with Building Type E and the construction boom, and that has to be acknowledged,” Daniel Riedl stresses. However, every new construction project also requires the creativity of the individual project team to reduce costs where it makes sense and is possible. “One particularly important source of leveraging costs is to do without underground car parks, because building underground is comparatively expensive. If, instead, multi-level car parks are planned that can be dismantled later if they are no longer needed, you are more flexible, you can respond intelligently to future mobility needs, and you can save on a substantial amount of costs,” Daniel Riedl reports.

BUWOG construction site: montage of the prefabricated GROPYUS elements on site. Photo: PR

Affordability and simple construction therefore remain critical issues. Serial, modular and systemic construction is another way to make planning and

building more affordable. This was the topic of our fantastic live podcast in episode 55. One of our guests was Markus Fuhrmann from GROPYUS. The company has built a smart factory where robots manufacture elements that are then transported to the construction site and assembled there.

Daniel Riedl also sees marvellous opportunities here as well, and not just in terms of cost development. Another crucial factor is that “clean and rapid construction is an enormous advantage for residents, especially in redensification projects.” BUWOG currently has two specific projects underway with GROPYUS, on Hildegardstraße and Schlichtallee in Berlin, with more planned.

Improvement needed in the visibility of women

The topic of the most recent live episode was “Women in the Real Estate Industry” (here is the entire episode, video included). At the present time, only one in ten executives in the industry is a woman, and numerous panels at EXPO REAL & Co are made up entirely of men, so-called “manels”. “There is quite a bit to be done,” Daniel Riedl says, because it has long been clear that mixed teams also produce better results “and take a greater number of varying perspectives into account.” He encourages women to be more confident and, for example, to apply for their dream jobs even if they do not meet all the requirements of an application. “At the same time, companies can create a framework that promotes women’s careers and the compatibility of work and family life,” says Riedl, such as part-time models or job sharing. “Why shouldn’t two women share a management position on a part-time basis, for example? There are many possible models.”

One thing is clear: Diversity remains an ongoing task for the entire industry, and the visibility of women – for example, on panels – needs to be improved. Daniel Riedl: “No more manels!”

Incidentally, in order to make talented women even more visible in the future, the association “Frauen in der Immobilienwirtschaft e.V.” (Women in the Real Estate Industry) even offers its own pool of female speakers on a variety of specialist topics in the real estate industry on its website.

Finally, the bonus episode ventures a look ahead. One highlight: In 2026, BUWOG will celebrate its 75th anniversary. And it will continue to demonstrate how existing conflicts of interest, not only between economic efficiency and sustainability, can be resolved in creative ways.