Perhaps you have experienced it yourself: you find yourself in front of an old house, factory or workshop, look into an ageing room and think how beautiful it could be to preserve this historical building stock, fit it out and put it to good use. Maybe even for a different purpose. But what matters most is to keep this old architectural gem for posterity. These thoughts frequently culminate in what is called ‘adaptive reuse’ (visit the BLOG post). And with these thoughts come a series of questions and (planning) steps that need to be taken into account for the successful completion of a refurbishment or reuse project.
These are the questions that arise in connection with the envisaged outcome of a refurbishment project. Is the project for me – a hobby – something to complete no matter the cost or how long it takes? Will I continue the renovation whenever I happen to have the (financial) resources? Or am I embarking on a more extensive refurbishment project that will require expert opinions from various specialists or authorisations etc. and not just adequate funds at my disposal? It goes without saying that the answers to these preparatory questions may overlap. But the following applies nonetheless as a rule of thumb: the bigger the project, the more extensive it is, the wider the circle of people that need to be contacted in very good time. The aspects that must be discussed and considered will also become more detailed.
All aspects and questions will essentially revolve around these five topics:
Let us begin – unusually, it’s true – at the end of the list with the financing and subsidisation. We are living in an age that values sustainability, environmental protection and the prudent use of resources in every sector, so there are a number of funding programmes in the area of building renovation that support sustainable projects. The public sector assists with the optimisation of heat efficiency as well as with renovation grants for municipalities and private individuals – both in single-storey and multi-storey residential buildings and much more. The Renovation Campaign 2023/
It does not matter whether you, the developer, plan to carry the financial burden by yourself: the use of resources must be planned meticulously. This applies from the get-go – so from the first thought and not when the work commences. Proceeding in this way makes the necessary connection to the other three items on the checklist. building fabric, know how and future use. The pertinent questions and details need to be discussed with specialists, and the necessary expertise must be brought in.
Here at WEGRAZ, we have an impressive track record of elaborate and successful refurbishment projects, including the Grazer Glockenspiel or our company headquarters on Leechgasse. Make contact with us to source assistance for your refurbishment project!
Read more (optional):
Renovation Campaign 2023/
Renovation Bonus
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