Transition is an interdisciplinary consultancy founded in 2014 with the main goal of accelerating the transition to a sustainable society. We carry out technical assessments, provide strategic advice, and combine data analysis and communication with anthropological insights, because we believe: change only succeeds through people. Our team comprises around 50 employees with solid expertise in sustainability, including engineers, anthropologists, business developers and energy consultants. Within the built environment, our focus is on renovation and transformation. We love unique buildings and see the built environment as a tangible manifestation of societal prosperity.

We work with a model we call the “renovation hierarchy”: maintenance comes before renovation, renovation before transformation, and new builds are the last resort. At every stage, we place great value on circular economy principles, both in design and in material reuse. We adopt a regenerative approach by integrating bio-based materials. But it’s not just about energy efficiency, we also seek to create social value, for instance by breathing new life into existing spaces through clever repurposin.

I’m driven by the desire to develop existing buildings in a way that keeps them culturally and functionally relevant. Every old building represents an investment not just in CO₂ and resources, but also in history and identity. My goal is to preserve this stock intelligently while making it future-proof. I specifically look for details and materials that can extend a building’s lifespan, either through architectural and functional upgrades or by supplementing with bio-based or reused materials. A well-preserved sink, door, or lighting fixture can tell the story of a building. Likewise, a reconfigured floor plan can enable an entirely new use. Both are for me building blocks of sustainable transformation.

In general, renovation is the better choice, both ecologically and economically. Only in cases of severely damaged buildings or radically changed usage requirements does it become difficult. Owners are therefore well advised to invest regularly in maintenance. And lawmakers must factor in the environmental costs of new usage demands, for example in schools, administrative buildings or hospitals.

There are thousands of wonderful buildings that would greatly benefit from conversion or even just retrofitting and could bring immense value to surrounding communities. However, the main issue, as in many countries, is economic: as long as building new on greenfield sites is cheaper than a complex renovation, the existing stock will remain disadvantaged. This leads to unnecessary resource use and high emissions.
At the same time, Denmark has clear legal requirements for energy renovation, and preserving historical buildings is also regulated by law. Yet these often clash with intensive new building activity, putting enormous pressure on developers. Particularly in structurally weak regions, many buildings lose their relevance and fall into disrepair, even though they are still needed.

For me, it’s clear: our buildings are more than just functional spaces. They shape our communities, our urban image, and our history. And they deserve respect, because previous generations created them with high ecological and economic effort.

I believe Germany is already well positioned. In cities like Berlin, Hamburg or Dresden, I see impressive examples of successful renovations and creative transformations. A stroll through Berlin shows: world-leading renovation projects are taking place here. Functional use of buildings is also very consciously designed in Germany, resulting in a distinctive aesthetic sensibility.

It has broadened significantly from purely economic questions to a holistic view of the building’s life cycle. Energy efficiency today also means: how much material is used for it? What effects does this have on the environment and biodiversity?
The energy crisis following the Ukraine war showed how urgently we need a sustainable building infrastructure. Unfortunately, this awareness is already fading. But new EU regulations are sending clear signals. Sustainability is no longer a niche topic, but the sector is still far from the depth and urgency required. The key factor remains: economic viability. And only political framework conditions can shift that.
 

Above all, they provide clarity. A life cycle assessment reveals the environmental impact of a project, particularly the carbon footprint. An environmental assessment analyses which materials and pollutants have accumulated over decades. Especially in buildings from the 1950s to 1970s, one encounters numerous chemical substances that are both robust and toxic. This demands creative solutions in remodelling buildings. That’s where these tools help: they connect analytical rigour with design freedom.

We map buildings to understand their potential. We use mapping as a knowledge base for owners or for material reuse after deconstruction. With CO₂ mapping, we calculate the embedded CO₂ value and evaluate renovation scenarios. We combine analogue exploration with digital documentation creating the foundation for creative processes.