Re:Living Initiative Launches to Scale Building Renovation Across Europe

The Re:Living initiative is set to debut in Barcelona on 3 July 2026, coinciding with the UIA World Congress of Architects and the city's designation as the World Capital of Architecture. Spearheaded by VELUX, this project aspires to shift renovation from being a series of individual efforts to a scalable strategy for Europe's existing buildings. At its core is the Green Paper titled 'The Housing We Need for the Future We Want,' created in collaboration with BPIE, Artelia, RISE, and No Objectives. This research contends that rather than focusing solely on new construction, renovation could potentially unlock up to 107 million additional homes through various methods. The report expands the evaluation metrics to encompass resource use and biodiversity alongside carbon impact. A practical demonstration will explore achieving healthier indoor environments, reduced environmental footprints, and affordability in current structures. Building on the 2023 Living Places project, which showcased low-carbon, healthy, and economically viable new homes, Re:Living aims to involve architects, engineers, researchers, and industry stakeholders in a collaborative learning experience, with findings documented for broader industry transformation.