The DAZ expressly supports the HouseEurope! initiative and invites followers, guests, and friends of the DAZ to do the same. One million signatures are needed across Europe by 2026. Join in and make a statement for the construction revolution!
Say No to Demolition
Today, many buildings are treated not as residential spaces, but as objects of speculation. Financial speculation leads to millions of square meters standing empty and falling into disrepair or being demolished and replaced. From functioning single-family homes to abandoned industrial and office buildings: for real estate speculators, every building is up for demolition. By 2050, we will demolish around two billion square meters of existing space in Europe. This corresponds to half of the living space in Germany or more than the entire living space of Paris or Berlin. Instead, we will build billions of square meters of new space to replace what was already there. This creates social, economic, ecological, and cultural problems, as demolition always means a loss of housing, jobs, energy, and history.
HouseEurope! is the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) for new EU laws that make renovations and conversions easier, cheaper, and more socially responsible. Specifically, this demand results in three legislative proposals:
(1) tax reductions for renovation work and reused materials,
(2) fair evaluation criteria for assessing the risks and potential of existing buildings, and
(3) renovation subsidies for the CO2 stored in existing structures.
What is an European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)?
Many people, groups, and organizations are already committed to the social and ecological transformation of our buildings. HouseEurope! wants to support these local and national initiatives and jointly raise them to the European level. For this reason, HouseEurope! launched the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). An ECI is a direct democratic tool that makes it possible to propose new or improved legislation. If one million EU citizens from at least seven countries support an issue, the European Commission must review the proposal and form a working group. Through this process, the public can directly shape EU policy and address critical issues. One million signatures are needed across Europe by 2026.
Further links
News by BDA >> BDA unterstützt [supports] HouseEurope! (German)
Worst practice >> Abriss-Atlas.de
Best practice >> Umbau-Atlas des BDA
Political positions by BDA >> Das Haus der Erde (2019)
Political positions by BDA >> Wohnungen preis-wert bauen
Graphics: HouseEurope!
Photograph: Edgar Rodtmann (HouseEurope! Assembly at THF, Berlin, 2024)
