Renovating an existing building can reduce embodied carbon emissions by up to 50–75% compared to demolishing and rebuilding from scratch[2]. Retrofit and renovation not only avoid the carbon emissions associated with demolition and rebuilding, but also unlock a range of bonus environmental, economic, and social benefits. As awareness grows around circular construction and adaptive reuse, these approaches are proving to be more than just sustainable — they’re strategic.

With this in mind, the forthcoming Holcim Foundation Fellowship in Brussels with the ETH Zurich will create a space for participants to focus on adaptive reuse—transforming existing buildings rather than demolishing them. This approach underscores the importance of preserving embodied carbon and reducing construction waste, aligning with sustainable development goals. By involving students and emerging professionals in real-world projects, the program fosters a new generation of practitioners who prioritize sustainability and retrofit solutions[3]. This educational aspect emphasizes the long-term advantages of retrofit in shaping future industry standards. 

So what are the surprising advantages of retrofitting? Let’s dive in, with examples that are a showcase of previous winners of Holcim Foundation Awards.

How Retrofit Sustains Cultural Memory

Preserving architecture strengthens spatial memory and community identity, especially in areas undergoing rapid development and change[4]. The Fujian Tulou in China (pictured above) exemplifies how deeply rooted cultural forms can be thoughtfully reactivated for contemporary life. Rather than museumising these 700-year-old earthen structures, the project—led by Tiantian Xu of DnA_Design and Architecture—worked closely with residents and craftspeople to convert Tulou buildings into schools, community centres, and residences. 

Rather than reconstruct them as museum pieces, this Holcim Foundation Awards winning project repurposes existing conditions as opportunities: for example, collapsed sections become gardens, courtyards, or look-out terraces—preserving both form and memory while introducing new life. The radial layout, communal living model, and thick earthen walls were preserved to support social cohesion, while subtle interventions updated the spaces for modern use. This adaptive reuse not only enhanced liveability and resilience but also honoured cultural memory and the communal spirit of the Hakka people. 

Each tulou is adapted based on local needs: one becomes a library honouring scholar Lin Yutang, another a community theatre for opera workshops, and another a food production hub for tropical fruit. This approach ensures relevance and daily use, restoring collective memory and strengthening emotional ties to place. The program is economically efficient, employs 100% local labour, and is expected to benefit over 12,000 people while creating 260 local jobs. Importantly, it also revives traditional construction knowledge by training young villagers in heritage techniques—ensuring that continuity is lived, not just preserved.

How Old Walls Open New Doors

Retaining parts of existing structures can allow projects to bypass zoning, heritage, and planning restrictions that would typically apply to new construction. This can shorten approval timelines and allow for greater design flexibility within complex urban environments. These regulatory advantages can shorten approval timelines and reduce red tape[5]. For instance, in adaptive reuse projects, preserving façades or structural frames often qualifies developments for incentives or exceptions in planning regulations.

A notable example is the Tate Modern expansion in London (pictured above). Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and completed in 1963, the building was decommissioned in 1981 and, crucially, was not listed as a protected structure, allowing the redevelopment to proceed with greater planning flexibility. When Tate announced the project in 1994, Herzog & de Meuron’s design retained the key architectural elements — including the iconic chimney and massive Turbine Hall — enabling the reuse of the existing building envelope[6]. This helped bypass many zoning and structural approval hurdles that would have applied to a new build, particularly in a central London location[7].

The respectful integration of heritage character into a new cultural use also helped accelerate planning approvals, with Southwark Council granting consent in 1996. The project has since become a model for adaptive reuse, offering economic, environmental, and regulatory benefits while preserving urban identity.

The Priceless Materials Already in Place

Older buildings often include distinctive materials and details that would be prohibitively expensive to reproduce using modern techniques. Retaining and celebrating these elements can offer both economic and cultural value[8]. In the case of the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design (pictured above) at the University of Toronto, the design team led by NADAAA retained the 1875 Gothic Revival façade, timber framing, and sandstone detailing of the historic structure. These heritage components became visual and material anchors for the new intervention, which integrated contemporary studio spaces and high-performance systems. 

The result is a campus icon that blends authenticity with innovation, avoiding the cost and aesthetic limitations of replicating historic craftsmanship from scratch. In doing so the Holcim Foundation Awards prize-winning John H Daniels building demonstrates how adaptive reuse can unlock the unique value embedded in traditional buildings. These material legacies—cornices, vaulted ceilings, worn stone steps—carry meaning that cannot be easily replicated and contribute to the sense of place that defines great architecture. By preserving and adapting these features, the project sets a benchmark for sustainable heritage integration in contemporary institutional design.

Renovation Reduces Risk and Cost

Phased renovation offers developers a way to reduce capital exposure and respond flexibly to market conditions. Compared to new-builds, this approach enables better cash-flow management and more incremental investment[9]. In Madrid, the Holcim Foundation Awards winner Infinito Delicias (pictured above) project converted a mid-century industrial bakery into residential and retail spaces while preserving 95% of the original structure. The five-year phased development reduced upfront costs and avoided high land-disposal or demolition fees. With a total construction cost of approximately USD 3,400/sq meter—15% less than the benchmark for comparable sustainable buildings in Madrid—the project demonstrated that reuse can be both financially strategic and environmentally responsible.

Designed with a flexible, open-plan layout, the building supports multiple uses and income streams, and its governance model reinvests 3% of the project’s value annually into local initiatives in citizen art and sustainable food production. Together, these measures make Infinito Delicias a model of how renovation can mitigate financial risk while delivering lasting community and environmental benefits.

Tapping the Strength of Century-Old Structures

Many older buildings were constructed with highly conservative engineering standards, using robust materials that often exceed today's minimum requirements. With proper assessment, these structures can be safely reused, reducing the need for costly demolition and new construction[10]. The Maritime Innovation Center in Seattle (pictured above) showcases this principle. Originally built in 1918 as a ship supply building at Fishermen’s Terminal, the structure was constructed with a heavy timber post-and-beam frame — a material system prized today for its resilience and environmental performance. Rather than demolish and rebuild, the Port of Seattle opted to reuse the original frame, leveraging its structural strength as the backbone of a new high-performance facility.

What makes this project led by The Miller Hull Partnership particularly remarkable is that the entire 700-ton building was physically relocated approximately 200 feet to accommodate site redevelopment — a feat that not only preserved its historical integrity but demonstrated confidence in the soundness of the original structure[11]. The adaptive reuse is part of a broader $100 million redevelopment of Fishermen’s Terminal aimed at modernising maritime infrastructure while honouring the site’s heritage[12].

Once complete, the Holcim Foundation Awards prize-winning Maritime Innovation Center will be a carbon-neutral facility showcasing sustainable design and innovation in the blue economy — all made possible by recognising the latent strength in a century-old frame. This approach saved resources, reduced embodied carbon, and allowed for a unique architectural expression rooted in the working history of Seattle’s waterfront.

How Retrofit Revives Heritage Trades

Renovation and restoration projects often depend on heritage trades such as stonemasonry, joinery, and earthen construction, offering a platform to revitalise traditional skills and contributing to the local economy[13]. In Dandaji, Niger, local masons restored the village mosque and constructed a new one using traditional adobe construction with enhancements for durability. The Hikma Complex (pictured above), led by Atelier Masomi and Studio Chahar, created jobs, trained younger community members, and promoted cultural pride. Blending heritage and innovation, it demonstrated how retrofit projects can become catalysts for both cultural continuity and economic resilience in remote regions.

By prioritizing locally sourced materials and traditional building methods, the Holcim Foundation Awards winning renovation and extension project not only preserved the architectural character of the original structure but also provided employment opportunities and skill development for the community[14]. The project introduced contemporary methods like adobe-enhancing additives and erosion protection, blending time-honored practices with modern innovations.

Why Communities Back Renovation

Renovation projects are often viewed by communities as more respectful to heritage and neighbourhood character than demolition or new construction. This can reduce public opposition and build trust, smoothing the path for approvals and ongoing community support[15]. The Place Lalla Yeddouna project (pictured above) in the medina of Fez, Morocco, preserved 11 historic buildings while inserting sensitively scaled new structures. The redevelopment created artisan workshops, educational spaces, and public squares, using materials and spatial language familiar to local craftspeople and residents. Community workshops were used to guide the design and ensure acceptance. The Holcim Foundation Awards winning project’s blend of preservation and contemporary adaptation improved urban function while maintaining the medina’s cultural identity[16]. 

From the outset, the project engaged local artisans and stakeholders in both the restoration process and the shaping of its mixed-use programme. Public functions such as artisan workshops, educational spaces, a cultural centre, and commercial areas were designed to align with the medina’s social and economic rhythms[17]. The involvement of the community not only helped reduce resistance but also embedded local identity into the design. As Arquitectura Viva noted, the use of passive climate strategies, ceramic tilework, and traditional building methods helped reinforce continuity between old and new, while also enhancing the project’s functionality and environmental performance[18].

This highly participatory and heritage-sensitive process contributed to the project’s smooth integration into the social fabric of Fez and its positive reception by the public. Recognised as a shortlisted entry for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Place Lalla Yeddouna is celebrated not only for its design quality but for its contribution to cultural preservation and civic vitality[19]. By prioritising refurbishment over demolition, the project avoided the community disruption that often accompanies large-scale development, instead offering a model of how design rooted in place and tradition can elevate public perception and support.

Retrofitting as a Spark for Renewal

Retrofitting existing infrastructure can serve as a strategic intervention to revive neglected urban areas, promoting equity, sustainability, and community reinvestment[20]. The Articulated Site (pictured above) in Medellín, Colombia, is a strong example. It transformed an abandoned water reservoir into a multifunctional public park known as UVA de la Imaginación. Colectivo 720 worked with local communities to introduce educational, cultural, and recreational programming, all integrated into the repurposed topography and tanks. By preserving the site's circular forms and introducing plantings, performance areas, and learning spaces, the project fostered social cohesion and environmental awareness. The design minimised environmental impact while generating local economic activity, inspiring similar projects across the city and receiving recognition in the Holcim Foundation Awards for its scalable and inclusive approach. 

Crucially, the project succeeded in attracting both public investment and community participation. The intervention was part of a broader strategy by the municipal utility company EPM and local government to revitalise dense, underserved neighbourhoods through the UVA (Unidades de Vida Articulada) initiative. Community members helped shape the programming — from workshops and concerts to environmental education and recreation — creating a sense of ownership and sustained engagement[21]. The UVA also spurred local economic activity, enabling street vendors and small businesses to thrive in the surrounding area, thus contributing to long-term social and financial vitality. By creatively repurposing municipal infrastructure for community benefit, the project demonstrates how retrofitting can offer a low-displacement, high-impact alternative to traditional development — one that strengthens urban resilience and equity through place-specific design[22].

Conclusion

Retrofit and renovation are no longer fringe options — they are central strategies for climate action, cultural preservation, and urban resilience. By recognising the full range of benefits they offer, we can shift from a mindset of replacement to one of reinvention — where existing buildings are not liabilities, but rich resources for a more sustainable future.