Last edited 03 Jan 2022


Refurbishment is the process of improvement by cleaning, decorating and re-equipping. It may also include elements of retrofitting with the aim of making a building more energy efficient and sustainable.

As a broad term, refurbishment is often used interchangeably with renovation or restoration (which is to do with restoring a building to its former condition). In general, refurbishment can encompass such works as ‘cosmetic’ renovations (such as painting and decorating), upgrading, major repair work, alterations, conversions, extensions and modernisations.

The lifecycle of a building can be significantly extended by effective refurbishment, as such it is a key component in achieving a circular economy. As every building is unique, not only structurally, technically and typologically, but also in local context, the correct approach to refurbishment should be assessed according to the particular conditions. Designers should seek to understand the actual uses of existing buildings and communicate with diverse stakeholders from the initial project phase to the end of the refurbishment.

It derives from Latin words re (again) and furbish (to polish) and describes making improvements to the current condition of a building and improving its current use or appearance. The scope of interventions reaches from ‘improving the environmental and operating costs’ to ‘repair work, renovations and alterations, and structural rehabilitation’ of existing buildings [2]. Therefore, the term may also cover additions which are made to improve the performance (e.g. in-use energy efficiency and operating costs) of existing buildings [1]. As a whole, refurbishment covers a wide range of interventions including (but often going beyond) maintenance, repair work, and alteration. Retrofitting, renovation and rehabilitation are sub-categories of refurbishment. [2,3]

NB Redefining value, The manufacturing revolution, Remanufacturing, refurbishment, repair and direct reuse in the circular economy, published by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2018, suggests that refurbishment: ‘Refers to the modification of an object that is a waste or a product that takes place within maintenance or intermediate maintenance operations to increase or restore performance and/ or functionality or to meet applicable technical standards or regulatory requirements, with the result of making a fully functional product to be used for a purpose that is at least the one that was originally intended. The restoration of functionality, but not value, enables a partial new service life for the product.’

[edit] References

  1. Schwartz, Y., Raslan, R., Mumovic, D. (2016). Implementing multi objective genetic algorithm for life cycle carbon footprint and life cycle cost minimisation: A building refurbishment case study. Energy 97, 58-68.
  2. Shahi, S., Esfahani, M., Bachmann, C., & Haas, C. (2020). A definition framework for building adaptation projects. Sustainable Cities and Society 63(102345).
  3. Plevoets, B. & van Cleempoel, K. (2019). Adaptive reuse of the built heritage: concepts and cases of an emerging discipline.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] External references

Designing Buildings Anywhere


Find out more Accept cookies and
don't show me this again