A responsible ethical position concerning urban recycling is thereby forwarded that is beneficial on both an ecological and economic level. The use of light materials for the building envelope increases energy efficiency while reducing operating and maintenance costs. Such savings in turn make it possible to offer affordable housing to a broad range of society, including those who are most vulnerable. More than merely a cosmetic alteration, this technique of renovation assures that the living quality of the city is enhanced at the same time as the life expectancy of its buildings is increased. This solution offers a cost-effective measure to reactivating the urban environment that is at once context sensitive and socially stimulating, proving that the reuse of surviving urban structures need not be programmatically limited or aesthetically disappointing.