DENSIFYING CITIES WITH TIMBER - FEBRUARY 2026 - RCSA

Описание: About this Event
As cities grapple with land scarcity, climate change and the urgent need to decarbonise the built environment, urban densification is no longer optional – but how we densify matters. This webinar explores how tall timber and mass timber construction can unlock a new, regenerative approach to urban densification, enabling cities to grow vertically while reducing embodied carbon, construction disruption and resource use.

Using the Cresta Grande Hotel in Cape Town as a practical case study, architect and tall timber specialist Sebastian Bildau (Atelier Bildau) and structural engineers William van Dugteren and Damian Mocke (SMEC) will share insights into adaptive reuse, timber-led extensions, and the engineering strategies that allow new floors to be added with minimal structural upgrades. The session will unpack how lightweight mass timber, prefabrication, and biophilic design can transform existing buildings into vibrant, mixed-use urban assets that support climate resilience, biodiversity and community life.

Hosted by the Regenerative Collaborative South Africa (RCSA), this conversation is for architects, engineers, developers, planners and sustainability practitioners interested in future-fit cities, low-carbon construction and regenerative urban design.

Speakers
Damien Mocke
Damien Mocke is a Consulting Structural Engineering Technologist and Technical Specialist in Urban Development at SMEC, a global engineering consultancy delivering integrated infrastructure and city-shaping projects across the world. With over two decades in the built environment, he brings deep expertise in the structural analysis and design of residential, commercial, retail and industrial buildings, with a growing focus on low-carbon and resource-efficient construction systems. Today, he works at the edge where technical excellence, digital delivery and sustainable construction meet, with a long-term ambition to help shape the next generation of building systems that are not only structurally sound, but economically viable, scalable and planet-positive.

Sebastian Bildau
Sebastian is a German architect, urban designer and tall timber specialist. Currently, he is living and working in Munich, Germany. His bioclimatic approach to architecture focuses on user wellness, operational efficiency and the exploration of passive sustainable strategies that integrate building orientation, material selection and experiential factors. Before moving back to Germany in 2019, he taught at Duke University, as instructor for architectural design at the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and worked as Lead Design Architect in multiple offices throughout North America. He has overseen large projects and master plans in a variety of countries, including Italy, Austria, Germany, South Africa, Canada and in the U.S.

William Ruijsch van Dugteren
William Is a registered professional engineer in the building structures department of SMEC's Urban Development division. He grew up and studied in Cape Town, graduating from UCT with a BSc in Civil Engineering in 1994 and has 30+ years' experience - 18 years at Bergstan (Liebenberg & Stander), 11 years running his own consultancy and has been at SMEC for 2.5 years. He is passionate about "hands-on" engineering, using appropriate technology and sustainable materials, working with natural materials such as rammed earth, cob, strawbale and recycled materials like car tyres - have a look at the Helderberg Nature Reserve's new visitor centre.

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
02:16 - Become a Sponsor
06:28 - Damien Mocke
15:06 - Sebastian Bildau
43:14 - William Ruijsch van Dugteren
01:05:01 - Q & A Session
01:23:54 - Conclusion
01:26:20 - Outro

CPD ORGANISATION
https://www.saidraughting.co.za/about...

SPEAKERS
Sebastian Bildau
BIABAU ATELIER | Architect, Urban Designer and Tall Timber Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.atelierbildau.eu
LinkedIN:   / sebastian-bildau-069bb876  

William Ruijsch van Dugteren
SMEC | Technical Principal, Structures (Urban Development)
LinkedIN:   / william-ruijsch-van-dugteren-b2128a13  
Website: https://www.smec.com/solutions/civil-...

Damien Mocke
SMEC | Technical Specialist at SMEC | Modular & Prefabricated Construction | Sustainable & Regenerative Structural Systems
LinkedIN:   / damienmocke  
Website: https://www.smec.com/solutions/civil-...

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MUSIC LINKS
https://freesound.org/s/533469/
Song: Yamaha
Artist: Kia
Music by: CreatorMix.com