The Demolition Drama

The Demolition Drama is a documentary film directed by Olaf Grawert and co-created with Alina Kolar, produced under the umbrella of HouseEurope!. The film explores the social, ecological, and economic consequences of speculative practices in the real estate sector. It investigates how functioning buildings – ranging from family homes to industrial and office spaces – are often left vacant, abandoned, or demolished to maximize profit, despite their social, cultural, and environmental value. By highlighting the hidden costs of demolition and the benefits of renovation, the documentary advocates for a European-wide “renovation wave” as a sustainable and socially responsible alternative. Currently, only 1% of Europe’s building stock is renovated annually, meaning it would take nearly a century to meet climate goals if the pace remains unchanged. The film emphasizes that renovation preserves resources, supports local economies, and offers new opportunities for architects, builders, and communities.

The documentary frames demolition as a practice that destroys homes, jobs, energy, and community fabric. Millions of people are displaced each year, while the energy and embodied CO₂ in existing buildings are wasted. The building sector accounts for 36% of EU CO₂ emissions and generates over 35% of EU waste. At the same time, renovation supports small and medium-sized enterprises, maintains affordable housing, and preserves historical and cultural heritage. The film examines the complex interplay between financial speculation, legal frameworks, and societal norms that currently favor demolition and new construction over adaptation, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in urban development and policy.

HouseEurope! is a European citizens’ initiative advocating for legislation that prioritizes the preservation, adaptation, renovation, and transformation of existing buildings. Formed by architects, activists, and policy experts, the group mobilizes citizens through the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), which allows one million EU citizens from at least seven countries to propose new laws or amendments for consideration by the European Commission. The initiative highlights the environmental, social, and economic benefits of renovation and challenges a system where demolition and profit-driven new construction dominate.

Ambassadors include Lacaton & Vassal and Herzog & de Meuron, while institutional partners include the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) and educational partners such as the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture, University of Genova, University of Innsbruck, and University of Vienna. The team’s expertise builds on more than fifteen years of developing adaptive re-use and renovation projects across Europe, combining storytelling, design, and legislative advocacy.

The Demolition Drama and HouseEurope! together call for a shift in how Europe approaches its built environment. By advocating legislative and societal change, the project aims to make renovation the norm, reducing CO₂ emissions, preserving communities, and creating equitable urban spaces. HouseEurope! proposes a roadmap: Preservation: reuse existing buildings; Adaptation: give underused structures new purpose; Renovation: repair and modernize for future needs; Transformation: shift societal value systems toward sustainability and equity.

The initiative emphasizes that demolition is not inevitable – today, every building is potentially up for demolition, but with public support, awareness, and legislative reform, renovation can become standard practice. The project inspires citizens, professionals, and policymakers to act, highlighting that supporting renovation is simultaneously a social, economic, and ecological imperative.