Industrialization for sustainable facade rehabilitation: a feasibility study in aging urban environments

Abstract

The existing building stock represents one of the main contributors to environmental impact, as a large portion of constructions were built under outdated regulations and technical requirements with low energy efficiency. This study assesses the technical feasibility of incorporating industrialized fa & ccedil;ade systems as an energy rehabilitation strategy, with particular attention to their structural compatibility under additional loads and their potential to enhance the thermal performance of older buildings. Through a case study, structural and energy simulation tools were applied to compare different modular prototypes. The results demonstrate that it is possible to integrate industrialized solutions compatible with existing structures, achieving substantial improvements in both energy performance and building habitability. Industrialization in rehabilitation enables the modernization of obsolete buildings and represents a viable alternative with reduced environmental impact. This approach provides objective technical criteria to support decision-making in rehabilitation projects, contributing to extending the service life of the building stock and aligning it with sustainability goals.