The focus of this dissertation is on existing housing
areas: in industrialized western countries, the
number of existing buildings that are taken care of,
renovated or restructured for other functions is
higher than the number of new buildings.
This is a review dissertation, based on empirical
material and further reflections from previous
research projects dealing with Swedish housing
renovation: from old single-family housing areas to
large housing areas from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
The concepts of careful renovation,
environmentally-friendly renovation and sustainable
renovation are analyzed as different approaches to
housing renovation. The aim is to present an
interpretation of sustainable renovation that
includes the goals both of careful renovation and of
environmentally-friendly renovation as necessary
components of sustainable development.
This dissertation identifies and analyses the main
issues that may be faced during renovation and that
have a relevant impact on the environment, the
architecture or the inhabitants.
It concludes with reflections about positive results,
incongruities and challenges that may be found in
projects of sustainable renovation.
areas: in industrialized western countries, the
number of existing buildings that are taken care of,
renovated or restructured for other functions is
higher than the number of new buildings.
This is a review dissertation, based on empirical
material and further reflections from previous
research projects dealing with Swedish housing
renovation: from old single-family housing areas to
large housing areas from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
The concepts of careful renovation,
environmentally-friendly renovation and sustainable
renovation are analyzed as different approaches to
housing renovation. The aim is to present an
interpretation of sustainable renovation that
includes the goals both of careful renovation and of
environmentally-friendly renovation as necessary
components of sustainable development.
This dissertation identifies and analyses the main
issues that may be faced during renovation and that
have a relevant impact on the environment, the
architecture or the inhabitants.
It concludes with reflections about positive results,
incongruities and challenges that may be found in
projects of sustainable renovation.