How can existing high-rises be adapted to meet new requirements and utilized as a resource for sustainable urban development? The exhibition AUFMACHEN! Rethinking High-Rises, which opens on October 16, 2026, at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt, explores this question.
As part of the exhibition opening, Felix Thumm, will speak alongside other experts about the future of the existing high-rise building stock. His presentation will explore how repositioning, repurposing, and energy optimization can help make high-rises sustainable in the long term and open up new opportunities for mixed-use, sustainable urban spaces.
The exhibition will be on view from October 17 to November 22, 2026. It's is a joint project between Arup and the German Architecture Museum. Using scenarios and international examples, it explores the potential of existing high-rise buildings for repurposing, technical renovation, and urban redevelopment. The focus is on strategies that view existing buildings as adaptable building blocks of a resilient and livable city of the future.