Folkehøgskole Sirkulæritet

The project aims to develop an adaptive reuse scenario for Ringve Skole as a Folkehøgskole focused on urban self-sustainability. The adaptability to new uses strengthens the area´s natural resources by incorporating the nearby field. By employing circular renovation stra- tegies, we minimize life cycle emissions and maximize environmental and social impacts while preserving the historical value of the built environment. The decision to separate the building into four blocks is driven by both design and functional considerations, as well as energy and emission performance.

Key aspects considered to achieve these goals include lowering the energy demand by improving the building´s insulation properties, implementing renewable energy strategies, and enhancing the use of daylight and ventilation to ensure good indoor air quality. Studying the existing building from a critical perspective has been essential to identify areas needing improvement or development. An analysis of the energy demand and construction properties provided a benchmark to compare with current technical and environmental standards. These standards have been met and even surpassed with our renovation strategies.
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology measured the building´s performance and its contribution to the project´s objectives. The renovation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%. In this case, a 95% reduction has been achieved. The strategies to reduce emissions are directly linked to the building´s adaptability to its new use, the design concept, and decisions regarding material renovation.

Text von Kristin Heußer, Ela Kmita und Aleksandrina Bidzhekova.