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There are many reasons why we should always think of restoration when it comes to “new” projects. One is the historical value of a building, we can learn a lot from old buildings in terms of history, architecture, design and the old way of living. Another reason is sustainability. We must be considerate to the resources we already have, and make sure we contribute to a circular economy.

The former steam power plant is an elegant brick building located in Västerås. Back in the days, the plant was one of Sweden’s energy suppliers, and for a long time it was left unused – until a couple of visionaries saw another type of energy in the building. Today it’s not only a tourist attraction, it’s a destination.

The target for Hydro is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. This through greener sourcing and greener production and the aim is also to help the customers in reducing their emissions through greener products.

Working with real estate development, one need’s to be able to wear many hats. To know a little bit about everything is important since the business isn’t solely about a building – it’s about the entire community evolving around it. In this business, one needs to think about location, purpose and never the least sustainability. We’ve been fortunate to have been involved with local pioneers when delivering products to a new bathhouse in Ålesund. While it might seem as a very regular building project, there’s much more to be told about the story.

The architecture of well-being is not something new. Some would say it already started in the beginning of early 20th century as a part of the modern movement. Healthy housing was a core concept already then, and a lot of buildings were built in the endeavor to improve well-being through design. The common thread of this type of architecture is copious amounts of natural light, views of the outside and the use of top modern technology. Lindesberg Hälsocenter is no exception, the building was designed with modern technology tools such as daylight simulation, energy calculations and analyses of microclimate etc.

If we are serious about taking part of the circular economy, we must turn words into action. Our climate commitment needs to be present already in the early stages of a building project. The environmental goals should act as a guideline throughout the entire process, and planning should be centered around the environemnt. We do know that the climate effect is real. We, you and I, are all part of the cycle of earth. The future does not await us, Co2 emissions is a responsibility for everybody, never the least in the construction industry. By making concious choices that generates a low carboon footprint, the building industry can create a circular future with less waste and more recycling.

In its constant search for new designs and products that bring comfort to users, SAPA expands its product range with the new AMBIAL versatile folding door. This solution offers quality finishes through multiple applications. It is mainly intended for establishments open to the public, since it allows, for example, to join the dinning room of a restaurant or a café to the esplanade or a pool of a hotel, while integrating into the landscape at the same time. The low threshold, the stainless-steel wheels and the opening elements (folding handle and "extra-flat" intermediate leaves handles) also make it easier for user to maneuver. Once closed, the AMBIAL door ensures outstanding insulation, optimises indoor well-being and saves energy.

Hydro CIRCAL was launched one year ago and has become a key part of Hydro’s aluminium product portfolio. SAPA facades are today produced with this prime quality recycled aluminium to meet the growing demand for low-carbon products. More than 100 large building projects have been signed with facades, windows and doors from the Building System brands of Hydro, included SAPA, since the greener brand Hydro CIRCAL was launched last year. The projects range from 10 to 400 tonnes of aluminium. “This milestone highlights the potential for low-carbon aluminium products in the building industry. With strong focus on execution, our team has secured and delivered solutions for a variety of building projects. We also have several interesting projects in the pipeline,” says Henri Gomez, Head of Building Systems in Hydro.