Replacement new construction for Vroluk Wonen

Replacement construction: renovate or replace?

Sometimes it's perfectly clear, but with all the single-family and terraced houses that are in principle eligible for a Net-Zero Energy (NZE) renovation, that's debatable. NZE only works well energetically if the neighbours also participate, and that may not be the case. NZE is still too expensive and can only reach the desired price if there's an industrial approach, meaning cross-project investment in systematic product development and production resources for replacement new-builds. This will also require much more collaboration.

When homes are written off they are demolished one by one and replaced by autonomous detached homes. Even if the neighbors do not collaborate the new house can enjoy the maximal thermal isolation. The house is constructed with modern materials, systems, partitioning and facilities. This industrial approach is better and less costly compared to the zero-energy approach.

WeLLDesign has studied ‘replacement’ and in by far the majority of homes built in the 1960s to 1980s, this is technically possible and can be realised within one week. Such an approach requires collaboration and innovation-promoting regulations from governments: for example, the requirement that a home must be replaced within a week to limit nuisance for neighbours.

The situation sketched above will cause a further transition from small-scale contractors to industrial scale builders with great opportunities for export. Streets can be pleasantly transformed into neighborhoods that acknowledge and respect the human dimension.