How can we build in cycles?

Holiday homes today account for a significant consumption of resources – both in construction, operation and maintenance. At the same time, many of them are empty for large parts of the year. To meet future demands for sustainability, we must build, use and manage holiday homes in a way that keeps resources in the cycle longer. This means reducing the footprint through smarter land use, material selection, sharing and reuse.

Terms related to the built environment

  • A system where resources are kept in circulation for as long as possible through reuse, repair, upgrading and recycling.

  • Organic materials that break down and return to nature, such as wood, soil and natural fibers.

  • Materials that are circulated back to industry, such as metals, glass and certain types of plastics.

  • Using fewer resources for the same or better results, often through multiple uses and smarter design.

Five strategies for more circular holiday home development

The measures are organized into five strategies that can be used individually or in combination:

  1. Share more – share both holiday homes and equipment

    • Facilitates rental, cooperative housing or home exchange

    • Establish leisure banks with shared equipment and common solutions

  2. Convert – give new functions to underused buildings

    • Change the use of existing agricultural buildings, schools, industrial premises or offices

    • Combine with new activities such as themed tourism or seasonal events

  3. Continue – create more in already developed areas

    • Add more units or beds to existing areas

    • Extend the season where infrastructure is already established

  4. Simplify – build smaller, smarter and more flexible

    • Small-scale, square-smart design with low-tech solutions

    • Portable buildings, reversible construction and locally produced materials

  5. Manage – active maintenance and adaptation

    • Ongoing maintenance to extend service life

    • Adapt buildings to new needs without demolishing or building new

Principles for reducing the footprint of your holiday home

Start with the location

  • Take as a starting point existing natural and building resources.

  • Preserve what has value, reuse what already exists, and plan the whole before the details.

Think about the size

  • Smaller buildings result in less material use and lower operating costs.

  • Closer placement reduces the need for infrastructure and terrain intervention.

Choose multifunctional solutions

  • Plan flexible spaces and functions that can be used in multiple ways throughout the year.

Act consciously

  • Support local suppliers and products with locally sourced and sustainable raw materials.

  • Avoid materials from unethical or environmentally harmful production.

Maintenance and customization

  • Take care of what you have through ongoing maintenance.

  • Adapt buildings to new needs rather than demolishing or replacing functioning parts.

Choose the right materials

  • Use non-toxic, durable and repairable materials that can be dismantled and reused.

  • Avoid composite materials and problematic substances.

Avoid and reduce

  • Limit the use of concrete, plastic-based insulation materials and tropical wood.

  • Plan for the safe handling and replacement of hazardous materials.

Close the local circuits

  • Use solutions for water, sewage and waste that keep resources in circulation locally.

Reuse rather than recycling

  • Preserve materials in their original form whenever possible – this saves both energy and resources.

Low-tech and biomimetics

  • Choose solutions that work without advanced technology, and let nature's own principles inspire the design.

How to get started with the work

Municipalities:

  • Map existing buildings and areas with low use

  • Facilitate sharing schemes and conversion projects in zoning plans

  • Prioritize densification over new construction on virgin land

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

  • Develop services for maintenance, upgrading and sharing

  • Offer buildings with flexible and reversible solutions

  • Use materials that can be reused or recycled

Learn more

Benefits for municipalities and businesses

  • Reduced pressure on untouched nature

  • Lower greenhouse gas emissions from construction and operations

  • New revenue streams from sharing, maintenance, and conversion

  • More vibrant local communities through increased activity year-round