Open house showcases strong collaborations and innovative research
The KTH Live-In Lab Open House on 31 October brought together researchers, students, property owners, technology providers, investors, and decision-makers. The well-attended event highlighted the lab’s diverse collaborations and its mission to accelerate innovation and promote sustainability in the built environment.
“We are very pleased with the turnout and the positive feedback from this year’s Open House. Participants were curious and engaged, and our partners, researchers, and PhD students delivered inspiring presentations,” says Marco Molinari, Centre Director of KTH Live-In Lab.
The day began in the spacious laundry room with opening remarks by board member Per Lundqvist, followed by an introduction to the lab’s goals and operations by Marco Molinari. KTH Live-In Lab’s partners — Schneider Electric, Einar Mattsson, Akademiska Hus, and Bengt Dahlgren — each gave a five-minute presentation, highlighting the mutual value created through their collaboration with the lab.
Visitors then joined a guided tour of the co-living apartments and technical rooms, where they saw key infrastructure updates. These included a newly installed hydroponics cabinet, a new heat pump with phase-change materials for optimal building performance, and a prototype of an innovative heat pump designed to recover heat from IT equipment, such as 5G antennas, which will soon be tested in the lab. The tour also showcased the innovative battery room, part of a PhD project, and the wastewater heat recovery system in the Einar Mattsson substation.
The event concluded with a poster session featuring PhD projects, followed by lunch in the laundry room.
“We face challenges, but we have succeeded in establishing something unique that continues to grow through our partnerships, research projects, and both our physical and digital infrastructure. The strong participation and engagement during the day demonstrate that we are on the right track,” says Marco Molinari.
Looking ahead, the lab will continue to expand its research areas, testbeds, and international networks, aiming to position KTH as a driving force among Living Labs.