The research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research” provided scientific support to the German National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) in the conception and content design of the subproject Real-World Laboratory Mapping within the Building & Living platform. The aim of the subproject was to develop a digital, interactive overview that systematically captures and maps real-world laboratories as well as selected best-practice projects in the field of affordable and sustainable building and housing in the existing building stock.

A key contribution of ITAS was to provide a scientific basis for the concept of real-world laboratories in the building and housing sector. Based on relevant academic literature, a set of criteria was developed to clearly distinguish real-world laboratories from other innovative practical projects (best practices). These criteria include, among others, the experimental character, the co-production of knowledge, transdisciplinary collaboration, and learning and transfer potential. In addition, criteria were formulated for best practice projects that, while not fully meeting the characteristics of real-world laboratories, provide important impetus for transformation in the building and housing sector as innovative lighthouse projects.

In terms of content, the real-world laboratory mapping is closely linked to the Building & Living platform, which addresses the topics of building and housing holistically in several fields of work and topics – from technical and structural issues to social and ecological aspects to governance and transformation processes. Within this overall project, the real-world laboratory mapping serves as a methodological add-on, highlighting an approach that is still not widely established in the construction sector but holds significant promise: the experimental testing of innovations under real-world conditions.

Since going live in June 2025, the mapping has been continuously expanded and currently comprises 31 projects. It serves as an orientation, knowledge, and communication tool for stakeholders from the fields of architecture, urban and neighborhood development, the housing sector, public administration, and academia and supports the targeted search for transferable solutions for sustainable and affordable building and housing in the existing building stock.

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