On 1 and 2 October 2026, the timber construction industry will once again gather at the Nieper Building at HTWK Leipzig for EASTWOOD; registration is now open
The two-day specialist conference, accompanied by a trade exhibition, brings together experts from the fields of planning, construction, industry, research and academia. The focus is on new perspectives for digital timber construction – with a significantly more international programme, whilst remaining firmly rooted in the Central German region.
Focus on interfaces and processes
EASTWOOD brings people and solutions together to ensure that digital timber construction works more effectively in practice. It is often not the materials or systems themselves, but the interfaces between design, structural analysis, work planning, prefabrication and assembly that cause projects to stall. This is precisely where the event comes in: it showcases effective approaches, makes digital tools accessible and, in 2026, will focus on clear processes and seamless interfaces – the very areas where timber construction projects are decided in practice.
As an innovation network, EASTWOOD combines generalist knowledge of timber construction with a single-track, curated programme of talks. Architects, engineers, timber construction companies, manufacturers, the housing sector, investors, as well as researchers and students, will come together to discuss how digital planning, industrial manufacturing and efficient structures can be brought together.
An international programme, brilliant minds
“The 2026 programme is more international than ever before. In this way, we are deliberately looking outwards, without compromising EASTWOOD’s strong practical focus,” says Prof. Dr Alexander Stahr, founder of EASTWOOD. Moritz Groba (Oslotre, Oslo) uses the HasleTre project to demonstrate how computer-aided design, three-dimensional collaboration and precise prefabrication can be combined with traditional timber-to-timber joints – to create adaptable, demountable timber buildings. Simon Ruppert (Bollinger+Grohmann, Frankfurt am Main) focuses on structural engineering and demonstrates how clear structural systems and bold designs can go hand in hand without over-consuming resources.
Prof. Fabian Scheurer (Munich University of Applied Sciences, Design-to-Production, Zurich) will present digital collaboration and platform approaches along the timber supply chain using HolzvisionMax and DOKwood. The focus is on how distributed teams and heterogeneous data can be integrated into cohesive processes. Tobias Wiesenkämper (Ripkens Wiesenkämper Ingenieure) explores ‘omitting the unnecessary’ as a constructive lever for sufficiency and uses selected projects to demonstrate how load-bearing structures can become leaner, more robust and more resource-efficient.
David Riggenbach (Blumer-Lehmann, Gossau) turns the spotlight on a timber-framed industrial hall that was consistently implemented as a design-build project. The Leipzig project ‘Leika – Co-operative Living: accessible. sustainable. supportive.’ by Libero Architekten and Holzbau LeiKa demonstrates how timber-frame construction, co-operative structures and long-term flexible floor plans come together.
Laura Mattila (Metsä Wood, Espoo) brings the industry’s perspective to the table: using Kerto LVL projects as examples, she illustrates how material properties shape industrial construction processes and can be translated into scalable building systems. In addition, AI-driven presentations – such as those by Dlubal Software and Christoph Dijoux (FLEX.institut) – address the question of how artificial intelligence is transforming design, structural analysis and coordination processes in timber construction. Dr Friederike Münn (B&O Bau und Gebäudetechnik) bridges the gap to the housing sector, demonstrating how timber and serialised approaches can be applied to existing buildings and outlining the framework conditions required for innovative concepts to gain widespread acceptance.
Networking evening and young talent
EASTWOOD combines a conference, trade exhibition and networking opportunities all in one. The trade exhibition in the Nieper Building provides a space for discussion with system providers, software companies and other partners in the timber construction sector. A dedicated area will also showcase current projects by the FLEX research team and collaborating research centres. A key feature of the networking event is the provision of 30 free tickets for students on architecture, civil engineering and industrial engineering courses at HTWK Leipzig, funded with the support of EASTWOOD’s partners.
The EASTWOOD.night networking event is taking place for the first time at the HTWK Leipzig Timber Construction Research Centre. This shifts the focus of face-to-face interaction to the very heart of the research infrastructure, which acts as a catalyst for Saxony’s timber construction initiative.
The event is recognised as a professional development activity; in previous years, up to ten professional development credits were awarded by the Chambers of Architects and Engineers.
About EASTWOOD
The EASTWOOD Timber Construction Network is dedicated to exploring new perspectives in digital timber construction. The two-day in-person event, with an optional livestream, is jointly organised by HTWK Leipzig – in collaboration with the FLEX research group – and the Rudolf Müller Media Group, through its specialist publications bmh bauen mit Holz and Der Zimmermann.
Date: 1 and 2 October 2026; Venue: HTWK Leipzig, Nieper-Bau.
Further information, programme and tickets: www.eastwood.de
