renovationsthat

Renovationsthat is a term used in architecture and project planning to describe renovation projects that prioritize long-term adaptability, resilience, and occupant needs. It encompasses remodeling, retrofitting, and extensions designed to be sustainable and reversible, allowing for future reconfiguration as uses change.

Definition and scope: It applies to residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. It emphasizes upgrading rather than replacing, reducing embodied energy by reusing existing structures and materials.

Principles: adaptability (modular layouts, flexible services), energy efficiency (insulation, high-efficiency HVAC, airtight envelopes), environmental health (low-emission materials, good ventilation), accessibility (universal design), and reversibility (use of non-permanent fixings).

Methods: phased renovation, modular components produced off-site, deconstruction-ready detailing, seismic retrofitting, and energy retrofit strategies integrated into one plan.

Process: assessment of structure and services, stakeholder engagement, prioritization of interventions, design detailing, implementation, and post-occupancy evaluation.

Impact: potential to lower lifecycle costs, reduce waste, improve comfort, and increase property value; challenges include upfront costs and complex planning constraints.

Examples: typical applications include an apartment building retrofitted with improved insulation and modular interior walls, a school updated with flexible classrooms and upgraded MEP, or a historic house reinforced for safety while preserving historic character.

See also: adaptive reuse, retrofit, sustainable design, circular economy.