"Along with the debris that accumulates, something deeper is also lost: time, human labor, stories, and the collective memory embedded in matter. At a time when climate goals demand reducing emissions and extending the lifespan of what already exists, demolition is increasingly recognized as a form of urban amnesia, one that erases not only cultural continuity but also the embodied energy of buildings."
"Their starting point is clear. As Campaign Manager Alina Kolar states, "Europe is on track to demolish roughly 2 billion m² of buildings by 2050. Just to replace them with new buildings. The current system is designed to demolish and build anew." The problem is not only technical but structural: financial systems, legislation, and tax incentives still favor new construction, while existing buildings are treated as obstacles to progress."
Mass demolition discards millions of tons of construction materials and destroys the embodied energy, labor, time, and stories embedded in buildings. Demolition contributes to a cycle of resource extraction, material production, and replacement that increases emissions and undermines climate targets. Projections indicate Europe may demolish roughly 2 billion m² of buildings by 2050 if current practices persist. Financial systems, legislation, and tax incentives frequently favor new construction over reuse, treating existing buildings as obstacles to development. Reuse-oriented approaches propose making material and building reuse the norm to preserve resources, social fabric, and cultural continuity.
Read at ArchDaily
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