Transformation – RE:purpose

How can we transform and develop existing buildings instead of demolishing and building new? Transformation – RE:purpose is a practice-based research project aimed at innovative policy development. The project is a collaboration between ArkDes, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Swedish Property Owners’ Association.

To reduce climate impact and the extraction of natural resources, the construction sector must switch to more resource-efficient cycles. Interest in circular economy, transformation and good governance has increased, but its practical application is still in its infancy.

Through knowledge building and speculative design, the research project Transformation – RE:purpose wants to investigate possible ways to promote a transition in the construction and real estate industry towards more management and transformation. Practice-based research that combines theory and practice is an important tool for achieving a radical change in attitudes and practices in the built environment and for achieving the national and global sustainability goals.

In the project, three creative teams will develop transformation and management proposals for each property to highlight the obstacles and challenges of transformation as well as the opportunities and values that may arise. The aim is to develop innovative proposals, for actions to reduce barriers and increase incentives for transformation, based on the teams’ work.

Through a call, three teams have been selected out of 40 submitted applications. At three properties in Sweden – in Gamlestaden in Gothenburg, Alviks strand in Stockholm and on Umeå University’s campus area – during 2025 the teams will develop methods and design proposals that take advantage of the properties’ built structures and existing qualities.