At the same time, building construction and demolition generate massive amounts of waste. In the EU alone, it is responsible for a third of all waste, and only 11% of this is currently recycled.

On the back of this, we are seeing huge growth in the number of transformation projects. Just from our own experience, we expected to double the size of our transformation business in the last year, but it has in fact tripled – and this is a trend that is reflected across the industry.”

2. What are the main benefits of transformation vs new build – in terms of cost, climate impact, or other factors?

“Transformation taps into the DNA of buildings and urban areas. It informs the architectural approach and serves to preserve and enhance the heritage and cultural fabric that define a building and surrounding communities. In this way, transformation makes an important contribution to social sustainability.

A study by Realdania, a Danish philanthropic association focused on advancing innovation and sustainability in the built environment, also identified a strong link between preserving cultural heritage and property prices. Homes in areas where more than 15% of buildings are listed, were found to command a 13% premium.

In relation to commercial buildings, we see a clear trend towards organisations undertaking deep renovations of their existing offices. This is a win-win where they retain the benefit of the office being in an accessible and appealing location, whilst also optimising interior spaces, increasing energy efficiency, and creating a modern inspiring work environment. This in turn helps organisations attract and retain talent and typically reduces carbon emissions by 50% to 80% compared to new build.”

3. What are the biggest challenges and risks associated with transformation and how can they be overcome?

“It is essential that investors and developers identify and manage risks from the very earliest stages of a transformation project before making major investments. This way they can ensure their business case stacks up and mitigate unexpected costs and delays.

Building plans from older buildings may be missing or incomplete, which creates uncertainty around the composition of the building. The condition, toxicity, and flammability of building materials may also be unknown and vary significantly depending on the type of building and when it was constructed.

A key challenge with transformation projects is that we want to preserve as much of the load bearing structure as possible since this is where the carbon savings are greatest. However, this may place constraints on how the space can be reconfigured. Feasibility studies and creative thinking are needed to identify the options that can maximise the full potential of a transformation project and minimise the risk of it becoming a stranded asset. We are also actively looking into how AI can play a role in this.

Digital tools can play an important role in informing early phase decision-making and here we have developed applications that generate thousands of iterations of the possible MEP and façade configurations to identify the most cost-effective and optimal option.”

4. What projects are you most proud of working on and why?

“I’m particularly proud of the transformation project that we undertook at Prague’s Central Train Station. The original station was designed around car use and dominated by a large adjacent highway and a parking deck on the station roof. The transformation centred around lifting the roof 13 meters above the terminal floor to create a light, inviting, and inclusive space.

We also sought to integrate the surrounding park more seamlessly with the station to create a more coherent and attractive area for residents and tourists. The client was very open to new ideas, which meant that we were able to come up with a creative architectural solution that also complemented and preserved the station and park’s historical identity.”

See the image carousel below for images of the project before and after redevelopment.