Full title: Building an Adaptable Future Brick by Brick through a Comprehensive Framework for Circular, Secure, and AI-Optimized Sustainable Construction
Partners: ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION (NTUA), ENVOLV AI AND TECHNOLOGIES IKE (ENVOLV AI), INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS (ICCS), AB INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT LTD (AB iED), INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DE ARAGÓN (ITA), TECH INSPIRE LTD (TEC), E2ARC ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH FOR CITIES (E2ARC), LULEÅ TEKNISKA UNIVERSITET (LTU), BLUEBLOCKS B.V., CENTRE TECHNIQUE INDUSTRIEL DE LA PLASTURGIE ET DES COMPOSITES (IPC), NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET (NTNU).
Start Date: 01/09/2025 Duration: 42 months
Horizon Europe
Project summary:
Le’ Colaz is a European research project developing circular, modular building solutions using snap-fit components, IoT sensors, digital product passports, and AI-driven decision systems to extend building lifecycles, reduce construction waste, improve energy efficiency, and support adaptable, sustainable buildings validated in real and simulated environments across Europe.
Brief Project description:
Le Colaz pioneers an innovative approach to sustainable construction through a modular, intelligent, and circular building ecosystem. Featuring a snap-fit design and advanced materials, the project enables the creation of adaptable and reusable building components, façades, interior walls, and flooring, integrated with IoT sensors and Digital Passports (DP) for full traceability.
These components are orchestrated on a secure digital platform that makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive maintenance and real-time anomaly detection. At the heart of the system is the Building Brain, that comprises a Large Language Model-driven decision-support system that has been trained on technical data, regulatory requirements, and end-user needs.
This interconnected network of smart modular parts form a decentralized system, the Internet of Modularity (IoM²), that facilitates self-aware and adaptive building environments. Le Colaz also prioritizes environmental and economic impact through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), while validation is done in contrasting climatic zones, Athens and Trondheim, via actual Living Labs, as well as simulation testing.
Le Colaz's long-term vision is to minimize construction waste by promoting reusability, reinnovation, and recycling, thereby facilitating the transition towards circular and sustainable living communities. Therefore, it offers a scalable solution for future climate-adaptive, resilient, and smart neighbourhoods.
Project website: https://lecolaz.eu/