Off-site retrofit to regenerate multi-family homes: Evidence from some European experiences

Abstract

The research of new ways to make cities more sustainable has become a central theme in the international agenda. The focus is on retaining, refurbishing and recycling the existing components of the city, converting the current linear economy model into a circular one in the urban sphere. Many economic sectors are moving straightforward in this direction, but construction industry does not seem to be focused on this goal. Representing one of the main responsible of waste production and energy consumption, the construction industry has to undertake a radical change of perspective along with a new social, cultural, and economic interest to regenerate the existing city in a sustainable way. The aim of the research is to highlight how to industrialize the construction industry in a sustainable way. This can be performed through off-site retrofit interventions, where all components are realized in the factory and assembled in situ, guaranteeing at the same time high performance, long lasting interventions and a big aesthetic variety. The paper critically analyses some European case studies through which it is possible to consider and to evaluate the relevance in terms of building components and the business model.