Interview with Enrico Frizzera | CEO, Manni Group S.p.A.
By Living Future Europe
The construction sector is going through a period of profound transformation. In recent years, we have seen growing complexity driven by regulatory developments, volatility in energy markets, pressure on supply chains, and the need to respond to new social and environmental demands.
At the same time, investors and clients, both public and private, are increasingly demanding quality, transparency and predictability. Delivering high-performing buildings is no longer enough: we also need to ensure reliable processes, strong delivery capabilities, measurable outcomes and effective risk management.
For this reason, I believe the next phase of the sector’s development will be characterised by the progressive industrialisation of processes, greater use of data throughout the entire building lifecycle, and closer integration between design, manufacturing, construction and operation.
The real challenge will be to move from a fragmented model towards an ecosystem approach, where value is not created by individual actors alone, but through the quality of relationships and collaboration across the entire value chain.
What changes do you consider most important for companies such as Manni Group and, more broadly, for the sector?
In my view, the most important issue is trust.
The sector will need to become increasingly attractive to institutional capital and long-term investors. To achieve this, it will be necessary to reduce the uncertainty that has historically characterised many real estate and infrastructure projects, while demonstrating their capacity to create lasting environmental and social value.
This is where concepts such as standardisation, skills and competency development, process certification and performance transparency come into play.
I believe that over the coming years we will see the progressive emergence of increasingly qualified and recognisable value chains, capable of providing investors and clients with greater assurance in terms of quality, sustainability, time, cost and outcomes.
For industrial companies such as Manni Group, this means continuing to invest in innovation, but above all contributing to the development of collaborative ecosystems in which all actors share objectives, metrics and responsibilities. In other words, it is not simply about building better, but about building greater reliability throughout the entire value chain.
Manni Group has been collaborating with Living Future Europe for several years. Why did you make this choice, and what value do you see today in collaborations of this kind?
When we began collaborating with Living Future Europe, we were not simply looking for a certification or recognition. We were looking for dialogue.
We believed then, and we still believe today, that the major transformations facing the sector cannot be addressed by individual companies operating in isolation. We need spaces for dialogue, cross-pollination and experimentation, where industry, design, research, finance and institutions can engage openly with one another.
Collaborations of this kind are particularly valuable at a time like the one we are experiencing. The challenges ahead of us—from decarbonisation and urban regeneration to housing affordability and urban resilience—require multidisciplinary expertise and a shared vision.
This is why I consider organisations such as Living Future Europe an important part of the innovation ecosystem. Not only because they promote advanced standards and approaches to sustainability and regeneration, but also because they help build relationships of trust between actors who often operate in different fields.
Ultimately, I believe the future of the sector will depend precisely on our ability to build strong partnerships, share knowledge, and develop value chains that are increasingly reliable and transparent.
Technology will continue to evolve rapidly. The real difference, however, will be made by the ability of people and organisations to collaborate around a shared vision of the value that the built environment can generate for people, communities and the ecological systems on which they depend.
Closing quote
“For many years, we have talked about sustainable buildings. Today, we need to start talking about resilient, responsible and reliable value chains. Because investors finance projects, but above all, they invest in the ability of the people and organisations involved to deliver on their promises.”
