A new building, an original concept
Recovering from the first waves of COVID-19 in 2021 we were keen on believing in the original idea: build an environmental-friendly, smart and innovative new building for social housing and create a co-housing community from its new tenants. A quick response to unfavorable factors such as the ever-increasing construction labor costs and building material prices, local government budget cuts caused by the pandemic, was needed. To keep the project alive practically, to cope with the market trends, and the increasing costs, the architectural plans for the building made in 2019-2020 were redesigned with a smaller budget by August 2021, giving hope and optimism.
New challenges, however, came along and soured the optimism months after the redesign: construction prices exploded again making the local government unable to responsibly cover the surplus. A new way was again necessary: how could we make the project a success by keeping the original principles. The final solution, in agreement with UIA PS, is to opt for the refurbishment of an old building, currently running as a municipal social house, instead of constructing a brand new building.
Following the approval of the new approach by the city council, the search for the best fitting local government-owned residential house had begun. A building older than hundred years was chosen to host 14 flats developed. Other parts of the original concept remained unchanged, keeping the initial idea of innovative building elements, renewable energies, smart elements incorporated, co-housing principles kept, and the tenants moving into the new social housing flats provided by a mentoring program. The public procurement procedure was completed by the Spring of 2022, and the contract with the selected construction company is signed so the construction is in full swing by today!
More information on the progress of construction will come soon!
Housing
