Making Renovation the New Norm?
Poor planning and profit-driven demolition are wasting resources and leaving people without homes. Join the conversation with HouseEurope! and support new EU laws prioritizing renovation over demolition.
This evening, HouseEurope! will officially launch its Danish campaign. The aim is to spark a renovation revolution across Europe. Poor urban planning, planned obsolescence, and financial speculation have led to the unnecessary demolition of millions of square meters of functional living and working spaces.
This wasteful practice deprives people of affordable homes and squanders resources, energy, and cultural heritage.
HouseEurope! calls for new EU laws that prioritize sustainable renovation and adaptation, ensuring that existing spaces are preserved and reused instead of being replaced by speculative real estate ventures.
HouseEurope! is using the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to give people across the EU a voice in shaping policies that prioritize renovation over demolition. By collecting one million signatures from at least seven countries, the initiative aims to push the European Commission to consider legislation that ensures existing spaces are preserved and adapted for sustainable use, benefiting communities and the environment alike.
Panelists:
- Søren Pihlmann, Founder, Pihlmann Architects / Danish Architecture Pavilion - Venice Biennale 2025
- Lars Autrup, CEO, Arkitektforeningen
- Jacob Blak Henriksen, Head of Sustainability Architect, Cobe
- Tamara Kalantajevska, Head of Urbanism, Schmidt Hammer Lassen / KADK
- Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov, Founder, No Objectives
- Erik Valdemar Eriksen, Activist, Den Grønne Studenterbevægelses Klimaaktivistisk Tegnestue
- Dominique Hauderowicz, Founder, Studio Dominique Serena / Danish Architecture Pavilion – Venice Biennale 2027
- Esben Thorlacius, Partner, Over Byen Arkitekter
- Moderated by Enlai Hooi, Head of Innovation, Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Event Program:
16:20 - Drinks Served
16:30 - Video Screening: "Demolition Drama"
Introduction by Alina Kolar, ETH Zurich / HouseEurope!.
Overview of Legal Proposals
17:00 - Short break
17:10 - Panel Debate
17:50 - Panel Switch
17:55 - Panel Debate
18:30 - Closing Drinks
