Domus Mundi

Reusing building materials for qualitative and affordable living

Domus Mundi vzw wants to make qualitative and sustainable living, housing and (re)building possible for vulnerable groups. It is a socially committed organization with building-technical knowledge which has extensive experience in the field of integral project guidance. Domus Mundi mainly focuses on renovation and urban renewal projects that help to improve the liveability and quality of life in a neighbourhood or city. Often it is about fighting against housing shortage and energy poverty, adapting the houses to the current needs and eliminating health risks and unsafe situations.

Research
That the reuse of building materials leads to a reduction in the environmental impact of the construction sector is widely known. However, within the Green Deal Circular Building, Domus Mundi wants to investigate whether reuse can also contribute to its objective of increasing the affordable and qualitative supply of housing.

The research project starts from the demand side and more specifically from organisations and professional actors from the building sector that have a direct impact on the demand (from their role as client or because they work closely with various building owners).
It analyses at material/element level where financially feasible reuse applications can be found. In this way, Domus Mundi hopes to create a new market for specific materials that can be directly reused in building projects and can have a positive impact on the affordability of quality living.
Because labour costs also weigh heavily in the building sector, which is even more the case when materials are reused, research is also being done into the role that social economy can play in (building) companies in order to increase this financial feasibility. Hence the involvement of Weerwerk vzw in the partnership.

Target
Domus Mundi's ultimate objective is to work out a business model that:
- either can be integrated into the functioning of the existing organizations (clients/builders or social economy)
- or results in a new organisation to be set up (search for materials, screening, logistics)
- or gives direction to a new cooperation model in the chain (clients/contractors/social economy).

Example
Kitchen at old location, before demolition:

Kitchen at new location, after reconstruction: