The Tectonics of Sustainable Transformations - Methods for holistic circular adaptive reuse of existing buildings

Preserving and transforming more of the existing building stock is a key part of the green transition in construction. By reusing existing building structures, instead of demolition and adding new constructions in its place, significant resource, and CO2 savings are achieved along with preserving the cultural heritage the building represents.

This discussion is important because the existing buildings contain many values; both the resource-related values inherent in the building materials and their processing, and cultural values, which cover the historical aspects of the urban environments that provide them with identity, character, and the desire to spend time in spaces and places.

The project sets out to develop an analysis model/methodology guide that provides the prerequisites for transforming buildings more sustainably and with higher quality using a knowledge-based approach. And upon that knowledge, the project will test the cohesion and circular potential between the existing building stock and sustainable materials through concrete subprojects designed according to principles that support future circularity.

It’s an investigation into the untapped potential in mapping the inherent values of existing buildings to assess current and future potentials and see them as a design parameter. The analysis will suggest how a current understanding of sustainability and a current understanding of heritage are incomparable or where they can coexist and be strengthened when we transform and intervene with the existing buildings.