The choice of Lacaton & Vassal to receive the 2021 Pritzker Prize was, above all, emblematic. Under the mantra “never demolish, never remove or replace, always add, transform and reuse”, the French duo built a career focused on renovating buildings, providing them with spatial quality, efficiency and new programs. Their approach contrasts with most of the architecture we are used to honoring: iconic, imposing and grandiose works. It also contrasts with the notion of the tabula rasa, of building and rebuilding from scratch, so well represented in Le Corbusier’s Ville Radieuse, and which has fascinated architects and urban planners ever since.

From simple layout and facade changes, furniture alterations to total building requalifications, the renovation sector has always mobilized a large amount of resources. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden need to spend a lot of time at home and turn it into an office, school and gym, companies have noticed an increase, especially in Europe and the United States. Interfering in a constructed context may seem simple, but it carries numerous complexities. The reality is that refurbishment works are much more complicated and uncertain than those built from scratch, requiring very complete projects, but with some flexibility, more intense construction management and even changes during the process. For this reason, it is also important to have a specialized workforce and expert advice.

Whichever term is used, when renovating a building, instead of demolishing it, a large part of the material resources present is taken advantage of, reducing the use and exploitation of raw materials, and in some cases, preserving the memory and the original urban fabric. Another factor in making renovations environmentally friendly is that by modernizing buildings, you can take the opportunity to make them more energy-efficient and comfortable for occupants. This can be done, for example, through better thermal insulation, better-sealed closures and modern glazing, with more sustainable and efficient heating systems, for example, which ultimately reduce energy consumption and related carbon emissions. In addition, there is all the energy used in the extraction, processing, transport, assembly, installation of materials, demolition and decomposition associated with the life cycle. The so-called Energy Renovation has been identified as a promising task for the future of architect