Daylight & Architecture # 10 explores the potentials of renewing the existing building and housing stock, especially in cities. Only 1% of the building stock is replaced each year. This means that more than 85% of the buildings that will exist in 2020 already exist now – at least in Central Europe. Thus the question remains what can be done with these buildings, and how existing buildings can be re-used, extended, refurbished, energetically modernized and otherwise “updated”.
The main focus of the issue is on housing and thus on the less “spectacular” examples of urban renewal and of conversion. However, since these examples constitute the vast majority of urban and suburban buildings, a truly sustainable solution will be impossible without their continuous re-newal and upgrading to current standards of energy efficiency, spaciousness, comfort etc.
