CONSTRUMAT's spectacular growth
An interview with Bruno Figueras, President of CONSTRUMAT
To what would you attribute the spectacular growth of CONSTRUMAT since its
inception in 1979?
More than any other factor, I would hazard a guess that its growth - which has
been constant since the very first event in 1979 - is fundamentally due to the
worth of the sector itself, because we should not forget that construction is a
real driving force behind the country's economic activity and that every direct
job gives rise to almost one-and-a-half indirect ones. Another reason is
CONSTRUMAT's determination to become an instrument that offers solutions to the
needs and objectives of exhibitors and trade visitors. Throughout the last
twenty-four years, during all the significant changes that have taken place in
the country's economic and social realities, the parameters with which the
Exhibition was conceived are still valid, as demonstrated by the heights it have
scaled and its leading role within the sector at both national and international
level.
And what is the key to its success?
I think the success of CONSTRUMAT is a direct result, in the first instance, of
the accurate vision that the Exhibition has historically had of its role within
the sector and also the weight of the sector itself in the country's economic
consonance. To elaborate a little more, allow me to show you exactly what this
weight represents, not at a purely Spanish level but at the level of all the
countries of the European Union together, given that CONSTRUMAT is an event of
international stature.
What short and medium term objectives do you have?
One of the most important of objectives of CONSTRUMAT is to consolidate a new
model of trade fair that transcends its undeniable role as a marketplace
offering products to become a platform for analysing current situations and
short and long term perspectives for the construction industry; a platform for
gaining knowledge of emerging markets; a mediator of contacts and a generator of
business between industries and those demanding their products in these markets.
With this intention, we are determined to make CONSTRUMAT a point of reference
and an effective instrument at the service of the construction industry.
What has been CONSTRUMAT's contribution to construction? Tell us about the
evolution of this contribution over the course of its 12 events.
The construction industry, which includes housing, non-residential buildings,
civil engineering, industrial construction and rehabilitation and maintenance,
is one of the principal sectors of the European Union's economy; it is a
strongly consolidated sector which has achieved a level of competitiveness on a
par with its main competitors, and which has adapted well to local conditions.
Gross production of the construction sector from the member states as a whole
represents around 11% of the European Union's GDP and 5.6% of added value, which
makes it the leading industrial sector ahead of the food and chemical
industries. It is also a fundamental sector in producing investment assets,
generating 58% of gross fixed capital formation. Furthermore, the European Union
is also the leading world exporter of construction services, whereby 52% of
international markets have been captured by European companies. The contribution
of CONSTRUMAT has been to serve as a platform for the introduction of
construction products, innovations and processes which, throughout the last
twenty years, have entered Spain by way of the European markets, as well as
towards a greater knowledge of these same products and processes and their
introduction to other markets via the platform of the Exhibition.
From the Exhibition's perspective - commercial, a technical meeting place
and a forum for debate on the situation of the sector - what do you think will
be the most outstanding aspect of this edition?
Along with the Exhibition's commercial facet, my belief is that a considerable
centre of attention will be our proposals concerning the continuity of CASA
BARCELONA - with the attendance of internationally renowned architects who will
be presenting their proposals for a flexible housing programme - and the
introduction of SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION, with the objective of ensuring that
CONSTRUMAT is also a point of reference on a subject that is of such paramount
importance in the sector's future. In this particular section, along with an
exhibition of products, there will also be a series of conferences given by
specialists from the United States, Great Britain and Spain.
Sustainable construction warrants profound investigation because it is such an
important topic of the future. We have organised a series of conferences on the
subject, but nor do we want to go overboard. Let's not forget that CONSTRUMAT
is, above all, a trade fair. In any case, the conferences will be very carefully
selected and will be extremely interesting. We will have a special section for
discussing products and there will also be a section showing projects that have
been implemented. There will even be a demonstration of software for evaluating
the sustainability of buildings. We want CONSTRUMAT to become a point of
reference for sustainable construction and that anyone who has any kind of
innovation in this field presents it at CONSTRUMAT. The intention is to
stimulate ideas on sustainable construction and promote it to the utmost. In
short, CONSTRUMAT should be a European point of reference for innovation.
As you said, in the Casa Barcelona Project the exhibition has continued its
in-depth study towards materialising the home of the future, characterised by
its flexibility. What criteria support this decision?
This was a venture that was perfectly in tune with the realities of our society.
In 1976, for example, the average occupancy per home was around (on average) 4.7
people; this has now decreased by almost half to 2.3 people per home. This means
that the model of a typical home in Europe (2/3 bedrooms, lounge-dining room,
kitchen, bathroom and toilet) is no longer valid, because what characterises our
social model is variety and change. And it is precisely this new reality to
which the home has to adapt, maximising flexibility when it comes to the
possibility, starting from a simple surface area, of moulding its content in
line with changing needs. Let's not forget that in the creation of a home, a
family is born, grows, fragments, and so on, throughout 25 or 30 years, but
while their needs are changing, the content that envelops them (the home)
remains invariable. We do not believe that this should be the case, and we will
continue our work based on these criteria. z
Barcelona, January 2003
