“Take care of what we already have”

According to Signe Walther, Head of Sustainability, it’s difficult to say transformation without also saying sustainability. She describes transformation as a bus that everyone should get on – especially if you are working seriously with the CO₂ agenda. In this interview, Signe Walther explains the value created when an existing building is reshaped for a new purpose.

To begin with, what is transformation?

“Transformation is when you take an existing building and change its use through renovation. In other words: you keep the core structure and repurpose the building for something new. At its heart, it’s simply better to make use of the resources we already have available – if possible. That is precisely what transformation enables us to do. And if, on top of that, we can rethink how to reuse the materials we remove during the process, there’s even more to gain.”

What role does transformation play when it comes to sustainability?

“When you preserve a building and change its function instead of tearing it down, you save a significant amount of CO₂. The structural framework is often the part of a new build that accounts for the highest emissions, so retaining it makes a huge difference in the climate balance sheet. Transformation is about thinking differently. We need to ask ourselves and each other how we can design buildings that last longer while preserving the resources and materials we have already been given. We are heading into a future of resource scarcity, so we should take care of what we already have whenever possible.”

Why should companies, organizations, or individuals think transformation?

“If you want to take the CO₂ agenda seriously, there is a lot to be gained from transforming or renovating existing buildings. Not only can you restore or unlock the value of a building that may have lost its original purpose, but it’s also simply a very strong path to follow from a climate perspective.”

What if transformation of a building is not possible?

“If it is not possible to transform or renovate, one will of course have to demolish the building. And here it’s important to carry out selective demolition and thereby ensure that as many of the building’s materials as possible are prepared for reuse or recycling. For larger demolitions, a legal requirement was in fact introduced this year to map potential resources in the building. You can’t go too wrong with the saying: another man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

When it comes to new builds, it’s also about designing flexibility into them so they can be transformed later if the need arises. If, at some point, the building needs a different function in the future (which is very likely), it should be ’ready’ for it – with, for example, the right ceiling heights, sanitary installations, emergency exits, and fire safety.”

What is most important when working with transformation?

“Adaptability. You must constantly respond to reality, and things may arise along the way that require you to change course. A transformation can be a major intervention, but sometimes the key question is: how little can we do? The less we do, the better for the climate balance sheet.”