The project aims at enabling a transnational exchange of skills and knowledge on energy
efficiency, renewable energy and the concept of circular economy for valuable built environments – tailored to target regions of Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
The project will develop a comprehensive toolkit promoting the knowledge and application of low impact repair techniques, maintenance cycles, digital technologies, and the use of local and
renewable resources. By enhancing the expertise of professionals (craftsmen, builders, heritage professionals, students and educators) the project will foster the development of high-quality courses, research and outreach programs, facilitate collaboration and networking among organizations in these regions.
The project aims to enhance the current national legislation, strategic documents and standards, developing practical guides to facilitate the effective transfer of knowledge. The project will create online learning platform, which will scale up project courses and tools to the target regions, setting the ground of reaching carbon neutrality of valuable built environments, including historical buildings, until 2050.
The project will organize workshops, seminars, multiplier events and hackathons, which will include different stakeholders and exchange of experiences and ideas. The project also envisages to build and engage a network of stakeholders relevant for the building construction sector, historical building sector and existing valuable built environment, tailored to the specific issues of each of the implementation countries.
Therefore, the EU-REPAIR project aims to transform the repair practices and approaches of valuable built environment in Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy – IECE
Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) – Germany
Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) – Lithuania
National study – Estonia
Estonia’s study examines heritage governance and how repair, energy-efficient renovation and circular economy measures apply to older buildings, with particular weight on residential and privately owned heritage. It also covers the RESTO renovation-support tool and the Heritage and Conservation Lab at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Its analysis is organised around five core themes: repair and maintenance, energy-efficient renovation, renewable resources, circular economy and climate. The governance chapter reviews administration, funding, digitalisation and the standards and legislation that apply to heritage renovation.
Authors: Triin Reidla and Triinu Väikmeri. Funded by EUKI and BMWK; the views are the authors’ own.
Germany’s study starts from heritage protection law, energy-efficiency rules and the wider regulatory context for listed buildings. It then looks at digitalisation, education, sustainability evaluation and funding, and draws on a stakeholder questionnaire and three best-practice cases. The best-practice cases are Esslingen am Neckar in Baden-Württemberg, the Möglhof in Rimsting in Bavaria and the Talvogtei in Kirchzarten. The study closes with gaps and lessons learned, recommendations and its own limitations.
Authors: Mira Geh, Milica Mügge and Anna Martin. Funded by EUKI and BMWK; the views are the authors’ own.
Serbia’s study maps the legal framework, from heritage protection to planning, energy, circular-economy and disaster-risk rules, and then turns to funding. Its core is a stakeholder analysis of awareness, refurbishment obstacles, training gaps and community involvement. It also reviews relevant technical standards and guidelines, and presents best practices from Serbia’s valuable built environment. The study ends with gaps, obstacles, lessons learned and recommendations for strategic planning and financial incentives.
Authors: Dr Marko Mančić, Dr Milena Rajić and Prof. Dr Miomir Vasov. Funded by EUKI and BMWK; the views are the authors’ own.
Lithuania’s study opens with the climate pressures on the building sector, then describes how valuable built environment buildings are governed, financed and digitised. It draws on a stakeholder survey of government representatives, scientists and other practitioners, and presents best practices, including a Kaunas case. The financing chapter covers the general framework and the state support programmes. The study closes with gaps, lessons learned, recommendations and a summary.
Authors: Jūratė Žaltauskaitė, Renata Dagiliūtė, Gintarė Sujetovienė, Vaidas Petrulis and Ramūnas Gatautis. Funded by EUKI and BMWK; the views are the authors’ own.
- Repair and refurbishment of the valuable built environment
- Energy efficiency of the valuable built environment
- Renewable resources in the valuable built environment
- Circular economy in the valuable built environment
- Risk assessment and climate change of valuable built environment
Implementation period
February 2025 - May 2027
Reference number
81313230
