Real estate experts advocate for renovation over new construction in Germany

Experts in the German real estate and architecture sectors are emphasizing the importance of renovating existing buildings alongside new construction to address housing and infrastructure needs.

Sven Schwarzat, Managing Director of Schwarzat Capital GmbH, argues that renovating existing properties is a vital component of urban development. Using Leipzig as an example, he notes that existing buildings benefit from established infrastructure such as public transport, schools, and shopping facilities, which reduces the need to create new networks from scratch.

Simultaneously, the architectural and planning industry faces increasing complexity due to sustainability requirements, energy efficiency standards, and digitalization. The sector is shifting toward interdisciplinary cooperation and integrated project structures to manage the technical demands of climate adaptation and circular construction, while also navigating regulatory bottlenecks and labor shortages.