Sustainable Construction Materials and Architecture (2021-2024)

SUSTAINORDIC – Sustainable Construction Materials and Architecture – functions as a change agent that aims to challenge the existing Nordic construction and architectural industry.

The work package also aims to identify barriers and opportunities for concrete implementation and debate the next practices for a sustainable approach to material use and for sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials.

The work package is lead by Pernille Martiny Modvig.

THIS WORK PACKAGE WAS A PART OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NORDIC SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME FROM 2021-2024. THE WORK PACKAGE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE, BUT THE WORK AND KNOWLEDGE PRODUCED CAN BE FOUND ON THIS PAGE.

Infographic organisation of work package 3
Activity

Democracy Festivals - Knowledge Gathering Tour

Throughtout 2022, SUSTAINORDIC hosted knowledge gathering and stakeholder/citizen outreach events at the Nordic Democracy Festivals.

Through eight events, SUSTAINORDIC engaged 220 citizens and stakeholders including architects, urban designers, decision makers, influencers and game changers to discuss perspectives and share experience around the question of what does it take to implement a truly sustainable construction sector in the Nordics?

Watch recordings from knowledge gathering tour debates here

The first phase of SUSTAINORDIC focussed on knowledge gathering. Now, the key take aways from a series of knowledge generation activities has been clustered into four focus areas or topics. Each of these topics will be further explored in four articles and round table discussions with the purpose to have a deeper understanding and wider debate.

Activity

Transformation Panel

SUSTAINORDIC has established a Transformation panel that represents the industry, academia and civil servants in order to test and anchor the findings of the work package.

The purpose of the Transformation Panel is furthermore to ensure market insights and access to state of the art research in SUSTAINORDIC’s work and to ensure that SUSTAINORDIC’s work obtains the highest possible influence.  

Article and Roundtable Discussion

The Hierarchy of Material Use in Construction

The first theme from the knowledge gathering tour is the hierarchy of material use in construction

We need to intensify the use of the existing building mass and design for multifunctional and flexible use. We should energy retrofit, renovate, and repurpose rather than building new and only when it is absolutely necessary to add virgin material, we need to use biogenic building materials both in new construction and retrofit to address the negative impact from embedded energy

Read the article "Material hierarchies – shifting towards sustainable practices and material in construction" here 

Read roundtable discussion on materiale hierarchy

Read more about the task here

Article and Roundtable Discussion

Place-based Development and Architecture

How can we work with place-based community design and architecture? Construction should be defined by the context in terms of local material and resource availability, cultural, social, and aesthetic context as well as legislative context. How can we work actively with architecture as a community shaper and a nudger of sustainable behaviour?

Read article on Perspectives on Place-Based Architecture here

Read roundtable discussion recommendations on Place-Based Architecture

Article and Roundtable Discussion

Legislation for Sustainable Construction and Architecture

In a concerted effort to redefine the trajectory of construction practices in the Nordic region, stakeholders from across the field of planning and construction convened for a roundtable discussion focusing on how to design legislation towards Sustainable Construction and Architecture in the Nordics.

Read the article "Legislation and Policies to Pave the Way for Sustainable Architecture" here

Read more about the roundtable discussion on legislation here

Article and Roundtable Discussion

The Unheard Voices in Architecture

 Through 5 interviews with experts in and around the building sector work package 3 has explored, how we can actively shape a more resilient land use in planning, architecture and construction in the direction of sustainable practices and conduct.

Read more about this roundtable discussion and article here

Activity

Future-Proofing Nordic Construction

The construction industry’s demand for new resources takes a significant toll on the environment. The norm of building new rather than adapting existing structures conflicts with sustainable goals for the future. To meet these ambitions, the construction industry must focus on reimagining current buildings, repurposing materials, and using circular or nature-based options when new materials are essential. Equally important is maximizing the use of buildings: shared spaces and multi-use facilities can minimize the waste of underused areas.
Find the report "Future-Proofing Construction" here

Nordic Pavillon at UIA 2023

In July 2023, SUSTAINORDIC faciliitated the Nordic representation at the Nordic Pavilion at the UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen.

Read more about the event here

Activity

Redefining Construction

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) make up a large amount of the European construction sector and workforce and there for play a significant role in the green transition. In some cases, they have the flexibility to adapt to new building practices and work in more sustainable and circular methods, yet they face systemic barriers like restrictive regulations, limited market access, and financial constraints. Introducing new legislations and stricter requirements can therefore have a significant impact for the SMEs, and might be a defining factor for their business.

Find the report "Redefining Construction" here

Knowledge Centre

Get a full overview of the deliveries of this work package in our knowledge centre