Making use of and reusing existing building materials is a way to keep both costs and climate impact down when renovating an old house. But how do you do it in practice and what should you consider?
Welcome to a digital lecture as part of the project Find Home in My Northwest, which aims to provide both inspiration and concrete tools for how reuse can become an obvious part of sustainable renovation of abandoned and old houses. Taking over an abandoned house or an older, dilapidated house is often the beginning of a comprehensive but exciting project. Behind worn surfaces and broken details often lie materials with long lifespans, craftsmanship, and great opportunities for reuse. But how do we make use of what already exists, and how do you find the right materials when something is missing?
During the lecture, we will listen to two speakers with experience in the subject from different perspectives. You will learn about:
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how the reuse of building materials works in practice when renovating old houses
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what to consider when assessing, choosing, and using reused materials
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what a system for reuse at a recycling center might look like and how it functions
The lecture will be opened by building preservationist Fredrika Ramsay, who has run Kullabygden's building preservation in Höganäs for many years. She has also received NSR's award ”Årets kretslöpare 2016” for her work with reuse. She will talk about how the reuse of building materials can look in practice, what is important to consider, and what to look for when choosing materials – both when you are demolishing and when you are looking for ”new” materials for your renovation.
The evening's second speaker is Martin Dyrberg from NSR (Northwest Skåne Waste Management) – also a previous recipient of the Årets kretslöpare award in 2013 for his then work at the magazine Recycling – who will talk about their operation ”Återbygget” – a permanent system that allows all visitors to both leave and take part in building materials that would otherwise risk going to waste. You will gain insight into how circular solutions can work in practice and how you can take part in it.
The lecture is aimed at everyone interested in how abandoned houses, reuse, and sustainability can interact. Warm welcome!
Participation is free of charge and open to all, but registration is required. The last registration date is March 23.
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 18.30–20.00
Place: Digitally. A link will be sent out days before to registered participants.