Dwelling renovation and spatial quality

Abstract

Abstract Renovation of dwellings for energy efficiency has further implications other than only technical and economic dimensions, such as performance and cost reduction. This paper demonstrates how the renovation of dwellings for energy efficiency impacts spatial quality by crossing technical measures of dwelling renovation with the definition of spatial quality proposed in Acre and Wyckmans (2014). The results of this crossing are developed further into a spatial quality assessment. Spatial quality consists of the interaction between four determinants: (1) views, (2) internal spatiality and spatial arrangements, (3) transition between public and private spaces, and (4) perceived, built and human densities (Acre and Wyckmans, 2014). There are two main challenges in this work: first to demonstrate that energy renovation of dwellings affects spatial quality and second, to create a clear and generic way to indicate and assess this effect that also allows comparability between before and after renovation. The current state of the art in building renovation emphasizes technical performance and efficiency, costs and user responses to technology. However, there is a facet that is hardly explored in the current literature, which is how building renovation affects spatial quality. This paper contributes both to the theory and practice in building renovation. First it emphasizes the relevance of non-technical dimensions such as spatial quality and of the need for a cross-disciplinary approach in energy renovation of dwellings. Second, the paper indicates that energy renovation indeed affects spatial quality in dwellings. The main contribution to practice that this article aims to bring forward consists of the spatial quality assessment for dwelling renovation. The technical measures of energy renovation for the building components of floors, internal and external walls, roofs, windows, mechanical services and controls, built area and the use of renewable energy options are considered in this study in relation to their impact on spatial quality. The aim is to identify and strengthen the connection between energy renovation and people’s well-being through spatial quality. The inattention to the potential of non-technical dimensions such as spatial quality, by stakeholders involved in the energy renovation of dwellings, constitutes a lost opportunity to increase occupants’ receptiveness to energy renovation. This receptiveness can be extended by strengthening the connection between renovation of dwellings for energy efficiency and benefits to occupants’ well-being. This work follows the current European tendency of fostering energy deep renovation to reach Europe’s 2050 aspirations (BPIE, 2011). Deep renovation is an ambitious building renovation strategy that encourages high energy savings measures and the whole building approach (BPIE, 2013). The paper is intended to benefit design professionals, and building owners such as individuals, corporate entities, public sector or real estate portfolio holders, because it points out underlying relations between energy renovation and spatial quality that are often not clearly considered in the renovation of dwellings.