Real Estate: "Anyone who consistently maintains their stock avoids costly interventions"
Architect Reiner Nagel on the underestimated potential of existing buildings, the art of long-lasting construction, and a project that shows what architecture can look like without cement.
Berlin. Reiner Nagel has been Chairman of the Board of the Federal Foundation for Building Culture since 2013. For 20 years, the foundation has been promoting debates about the quality of planning and building in Germany. Previously, the architect and urban planner headed the urban development, urban and open space planning departments in the Berlin Senate Administration for Urban Development.
Mr. Nagel, where do you currently see the greatest untapped potential in the real estate industry?
The greatest potential currently lies in the reuse of existing buildings. In addition to the material potential of such buildings, immaterial values, such as their historical, cultural and social significance, are often neither recognized nor utilized. For example, vacant offices can be converted into residential space at a relatively low cost.
What was the biggest aha moment for you personally in relation to construction?
For me, a formative experience was visiting the town hall designed by architect Arne Jacobsen in Aarhus, Denmark. The 1941 building looks like new, yet it has never been completely renovated, but rather regularly maintained. For the real estate industry, this sends a clear message: those who consistently maintain existing buildings preserve values, save resources and avoid costly interventions.
Translated by urgent.news. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
