ABSTRACT
The need for extensive retrofit of much of our existing building stock is undeniable. The
current government target is for all buildings in the UK to be near zero carbon by 2050,1
and 75 per cent of those will be made up of already existing stock.2 So far, architectural
education, research and practice appear to have been only marginally concerned
with this enormous task ahead. The work ahead will be to shape this comprehensive
transformation of our built environment with the right expertise, skills and architectural
imagination. The retrofit challenge is a unique opportunity for the construction industry
and will require a significant shift in current priorities in teaching and practice.
