dr. ir. Pablo van der Lugt

About Pablo van der Lugt

Architectural engineer and biobased building expert dr. ir. Pablo van der Lugt obtained his PhD at Technical University Delft in 2008 for his research about the sustainability and circularity of engineered biobased building materials including bamboo and wood. Since then, he has been active in the building industry as senior consultant on the themes sustainability, circularity and biobased construction, ever maintaining a connection with the academia through Delft University of Technology (Environmental Technology & Design). He is also member of the Board of Directors of the influential mass timber and biobased investment fund Built by Nature.

He is the author of several popular books on biobased construction, including the internationally acclaimed Tomorrow’s Timber (2020) – also translated in Spanish and Dutch – and Booming Bamboo (2017) of which the revisited edition will be launched in 2024. Van der Lugt regularly publishes his research findings in popular magazines and scientific journals and conference proceedings (his publication list can be found here https://www.tudelft.nl/staff/p.vanderlugt/). As opinion leader in this field he is often interviewed for radio and television.
van der Lugt is a highly demanded speaker following several formats, ranging from TED and Pecha Kucha talks, to keynote presentations at high-level international conferences, including the International Climate Conferences in Paris (COP 21), Katowice (COP 24) and Glasgow (COP 26).

The possibilities with the latest generation of timber products are endless – we can now build skycrapers out of wood – locking thousands tons of CO2.

Because of his energetic and interactive presentation style he is – physically and mentally – able to move his crowds. Because of his background both in practice and academics, he is able to explain complex topics such as climate change, innovation, sustainability and a circular economy in a simple and concrete manner – based on inspiring case studies and building projects from all over the world.

In 2023 he finished as number 4 in the ABN AMRO Sustainable top 50, the annual competition for most influential persons in the building and real estate sector.