Hoe maak ik mijn gebouw toekomstgericht?

How do I make my building future-proof? is a practical guide for clients to start on future-proof construction and renovation projects that respond to societal changes and leads to more efficient use of raw materials and energy. The guide starts with questions about the current and future needs of a building’s users and provides a checklist of the ambitions to be achieved by the project as well as an overview of existing studies and tools that can help in subsequent stages of the project. The guide (in Dutch) is available in a printed version and is also available online.

The jury on How do I make my building future-proof?:

A truly painstaking effort. The OVAM managed to convert an in-depth study of future-proof building structures into a useful overview. It also succeeds in transforming long-term thinking into something tangible for clients. By providing useful tools and examples first, and only later diving into the basis, we believe it is accessible enough to get started with and can have an impact on the construction industry.

How did the idea for this project come about?

Previously, the OVAM had commissioned the preparation of design guidelines and a building catalogue, which were mainly focused on change-oriented strategies for architects and contractors. What was still missing was a tool to help the client choose the right future-oriented strategies at the start of a project. The main purpose of the guide is to assist clients in choosing the right strategies based on the building typology.

How does it contribute to a better world?

With this publication, we want to provide accessible insights into future-proof construction and renovation. The publication is tailored to clients, since they are the decision makers who determine the project goals in the area of sustainability. With this hands-on interactive publication, we guide readers through the decision-making process. In addition, readers are challenged to think critically about their project and set the bar increasingly higher.

Do you have any further plans for this project?

The publication is being translated into French by OVAM’s Brussels counterpart, Leefmilieu Brussel, so that it reaches a wider audience. It is also made available online via the Guide to Sustainable Buildings (Gids Duurzame Gebouwen), the ultimate reference in Brussels for information on sustainable construction.