Better, faster and cheaper energy facades for transformation of multi-storey blocks built between 1960 and 1976: How to optimize renovation through an industrialized process?

The intention of presenting the project ´Better, Cheaper and Faster energy facades´ is to spread information and knowledge about an ongoing process concerning industrial prefabricated energy facades for renovation projects and to spread information of how to develop the project through an innovative process. The aim is to inspire clients and consultants to think smart through optimizing the planning and design process as well as the building process. Through this way of thinking we can secure a better, cheaper and faster energy renovation of the existing building stock.
The project is under development and has only been finished half way through, but the intention behind the system delivery deserves to be spread. Through the programming phase the project has now gone through a phase of total enterprise. This first phase defines the overall quality and functionality for up to 2500 dwellings and is carried out as competition in February 2013. The judging committee has now given their report and decision, and a contract for the following phase is given to 3 contractors. Over the summer 2013 a new mini competition will take place. In this tender the solutions of context and client specific demands will be taken in consideration – and through this phase the final decisions of the individual renovation will be set, and tenants and department executives will be defining their wishes and demands to the specific renovation.
The innovation project and the process to explore the client demands in such large scale projects have been driven by the housing association AL2bolig, Tilst, Denmark. Author was part of the architectural discussion through planning process and the evaluation of the first frame competition.
The methods used are:
- participation through the development process
- comparable research analysis to other projects
- discussions on the level of industrialized building process
- reflections through comparable renovation initiatives from Austria
- literature studies
The result achieved will prove that because a well-defined tender an industrial upgrading of the process can be lifted to a very high level. New logistic ways of cooperating, very ambitious levels of system delivery and optimized time flow can bring quality into all phases from planning, design, executing the building process and handling the tenants wellbeing. Add to this a vibrant architecture and a high performed and energy efficient result.