COLLABORATIONS PAVE THE WAY FOR CREATIVE REUSE

For many years, Volito Fastigheter has had a passion for preserving its buildings’ original values and reusing existing materials. Interest in reuse is now on the rise in property development, particularly in the design of new environments. Success in this area requires new business models and new collaborations, something in which Volito Fastigheter wishes to play a part.

Volito Fastigheter primarily owns and manages buildings from the 1800s and 1900s. Careful renovation with elements of reuse is a natural part of the company’s business strategy.

“Since the business was established in 1997, we have worked according to the principle that the most eco-friendly building is that which has already been built,” says Marie Persson, CEO of Volito Fastigheter. “At that time, there were few people who used terms such as reuse and sustainability, whereas today it is self-evident that we are to fulfil climate and environmental goals.”

Volito Fastigheter has many good examples of utilising existing materials. Light fittings taken down at one premises were moved to another that needed similar lighting. The suspended ceiling from Volito’s head office became a new ceiling in a modern shop in Malmö’s pedestrian precinct. And excellent cooling baffles, which were taken down in connection with a conversion, were given renewed life at other premises where the dimensions fitted perfectly.

“We have also repainted and reused doors and glass partitions,” says Marie Persson. “And rather than take out period windows and put in new ones with insulating glass, we add insulating glass on the inside, both on decorative windows in turn-of-the-century buildings and in more streamlined sections of somewhat newer buildings. It is also a question of planning and adapting new floor plans to optimise the use of existing structures and materials – all with the aim of reducing the climate impact.”

Reusing older materials and constructions is not only sustainable but also gives character to buildings and premises, and is increasingly in demand. The property sector is good at preserving materials but needs to be better at finding application areas for what is being preserved.

“There is now a need for new ways of working and business models for reuse, so that we can raise the pace to the necessary level. We look forward to creative collaborations with both existing and new actors in the sector, and we are convinced that in the near future we will see new business opportunities and networks that focus on reuse. We look forward to being a part of that,” says Marie Persson.

Business Area Industry starts up, acquires and develops industry-related businesses. Today, Business Area Industry is represented by Volito Automation, a knowledge-intensive and growth-oriented group in industrial automation with a strong market position in the Nordic region. Business Area Industry stands ready for continued expansion and the establishment of further business units focused on value-creating solutions for industry.