Attics conversions as an environmental and profitable urban strategy from empty attics to sustainable homes
Publicerad
Författare
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
As cities grow and sustainability demands increase, the construction sector faces the
challenge of meeting housing needs while minimizing environmental impact. This
thesis explores attic conversions as a strategic form of adaptive reuse, offering a dual
potential: reducing carbon emissions and generating economic value. The study
compares attic conversions to new construction, based on semi-structured interviews
with industry professionals, a national resident survey and a literature review.
Findings show that attic conversions can lower carbon emissions by up to 71%
compared to new builds, primarily due to the reuse of existing structural elements.
However, the profitability of these projects is heavily influenced by factors such as
location, ownership models, volume and the experience of each project team.
Furthermore, the study identifies regulatory gaps and inconsistent measurement
standards as barriers to broader adoption of attic conversions, despite their strong
alignment with national sustainability goals.
The thesis concludes that attic conversions should be recognized not only as a
technical solution but as a powerful urban development strategy – one that requires
coordinated public policy, targeted support and cross-disciplinary collaboration to
unlock its full potential in the Swedish housing context. Additionally, attic
conversions represent a unique market niche due to their rare combination of modern
functionality and historic architectural charm.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Adaptive Reuse, Attic Conversions, New Construction, Project Management, Urban Housing, Sustainability, CO₂ Emissions, Life Cycle Assessment, Profitability, Renovation vs New Construction