Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK)

The Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) has many years of experience in the field of resource-saving construction and materials technology. The concept of graded concrete originated at the institute, in which the weight of load-bearing concrete components is minimized by a stress-appropriate internal material distribution. For this purpose, a variety of manufacturing processes have been developed, including the spray application of micrograded concrete, the placement of hollow concrete spheres, and the use of water-soluble sand formwork. Since spring 2020, Lucio Blandini has been the new head of the institute, placing a special emphasis on the topic of circular economy. Among the latest developments is the research branch of bioconcrete. In this potentially CO₂-neutral material, the aggregate is bound by calcium carbonate crystals precipitated by the activity of bacteria.