The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and The King’s Foundation have announced the launch of a new initiative to champion retrofit, promote the reuse of existing buildings, and spotlight the local skills and expertise needed to make it happen
The new collaboration between RIBA and The King’s Foundation will feature two further regional retrofit events taking place this year, following the success of a community-reuse pilot event in Fleetwood.
These events will bring thought leaders together to share best practice and support cross-sector action on reuse in the built environment at a local level.
Retrofit is a growing part of the conversation about future sustainability
Retrofit – the upgrading of existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency, longevity, and flexibility – has been a core pillar of Muyiwa Oki’s RIBA presidency and aligns closely with The King’s Foundation’s work to promote harmony between the built and natural environments. The Foundation has worked on the repurposing of many existing buildings including Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Fleetwood Hospital in Lancashire, and Drapers Hall in Coventry.
The first event, “Reimagining resources – Buildings, crafts and materials ” will be held on 3 July at The Glove Factory Studios, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. The second event, planned for September 2025, will explore the importance of retrofit in creating healthy indoor environments.
Both events will feature expert panel discussions, interactive workshops and demonstrations, offering insights into how we can reuse existing buildings and materials to create a more sustainable built environment.
80% of today’s buildings will still be in use in 2050, so we must take action now
RIBA president, Muyiwa Oki, said: “We know that around 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 already exist. If we’re serious about cutting carbon emissions, preserving heritage, and creating spaces that really serve our communities, we must continue to push retrofit up the national agenda.
“I’m excited to continue our collaboration with The King’s Foundation, building on our successful pilot in Fleetwood to deliver two dynamic events that will bring together the key players from across our built environment. These events will provide spaces for conversations, collaborations and demonstrations of the local skills and expertise needed to make retrofit a success.”
Architect and associate director at The King’s Foundation, Sarah Robinson, said: “Repurposing existing buildings is vital not only because of their carbon value but because of their inherent social value as the backdrop to our daily lives and the glue of existing communities. Finding new uses for these buildings can create exciting challenges for the next generation of architects. At The King’s Foundation, we champion the sustainable regeneration of buildings, so we are excited to be collaborating with RIBA to establish a forum for engaging conversations.”
Tickets for the first event will be available in May on architecture.com.
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