Radical recycling

In Uppsala (SE), the Lumi project shows how the future can be built without demolishing the past. “Reuse” is the magic word: almost everything is recycled, from the foundation to the toilet bowls.

A former administrative complex built in the 1970s is slated for demolition. But thanks to a radical rethink, this problem case is transformed into a showcase project for sustainability.

One hundred and five tonnes of plasterboard, roof sheets, bricks, doors, cupboards and toilets – everything is dismantled, processed and reused whenever possible. Three previously separate building sections are joined together by a shared inner courtyard to form a new whole. Photovoltaic panels on the roof and solar cells in the facade provide green energy, and rainwater is used for flushing the toilets.

Geberit FlowFit is used as a supply system, for example for the toilet flushes. The flow-optimised press fittings allow for the use of smaller pipe dimensions – this reduces the demand for raw materials in the building.

No compromise on quality

“Instead of demolishing the building, we were able to retain 80 percent of the existing structure and add three additional timber floors,” says Jonas Wahlström, project manager at real estate company Vasakronan, which developed Lumi. But doesn’t reuse mean compromising on quality? “I’ve seen examples where old material is of higher quality than new. If you reuse the right things, the result can be just as good.”