‘Transformation into Housing’: a new open access book
The Netherlands is suffering from an ever-worsening housing crisis, but at the same time many buildings stand empty. The book ‘Transformation into Housing’, edited by four BK researchers, provides a thorough overview of the feasibility and sustainability of transforming these buildings into homes.
To solve the Dutch housing shortage, some 90,000 new homes need to be built every year. According to the researchers, transforming empty properties can play a critical role by contributing 10-15% of necessary housing production. Think of churches abandoned because of an ageing and secularising population, shops made redundant by centralisation and online shopping, obsolete office buildings and industrial properties, schools and hospitals.
Transformation is sustainable
Besides providing housing, there is a significant sustainability aspect to transformation. The process requires less raw material and produces less demolition waste than traditional construction methods. On top of that, the book investigates how to transform existing structures in order to increase their sustainability. Dr Hilde Remøy, one of the lead editors: "There is good reason why we are publishing this book now, in the middle of both a housing crisis and a climate crisis."
What to expect from this book
There are certainly hurdles to overcome. For one, owners of vacant property and housing developers often remain unaware of each other. There are also all kinds of economic, legal and policy challenges, such as uncertainty about financial viability or fear of lengthy procedures. So, besides its thorough overview of the feasibility of transformation, the book also explains the perspectives of involved parties and analyses sixteen existing transformation projects across the Netherlands.
Useful for many, free for all
‘Transformation into Housing' is open access, making the information available to all parties involved with the transformation process: owners, investors, designers, consultants, builders and (future) users of transformed living spaces. In addition, it is suitable as educational material and a reference point for students of various programmes. With this book, the authors hope to demonstrate that transformation is not only possible, but desirable: a step towards the long-term ambition of providing sustainable living for everyone.
More information
- Tuesday 19 March marked the official publication of the edited book ‘Transformation into Housing’. It is an expression of the collective expertise of four BK researchers: Hilde Remøy, Erwin Heurkens, Gerard van Bortel and Roeli van Venrooij.
- The book can be freely accessed using this link (Dutch only). The English translation will follow later this year.
- The editors wish to express their gratitude to everyone who contributed to the book by writing a chapter or delivering information about a project. And they thank the Nationaal Renovatie Platform, Stichting Kennis Gebiedsontwikkeling and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations for making this book possible.