This German startup revives old buildings

21 Nov 2022 CW Team

A German startup revives old buildings with a second skin, converting them into an energy-efficient asset and restoring the lost energy balance. CW speaks to Emanuel Heisenberg, Founder & CEO, ecoworks, to understand the process and the company鈥檚 plans for India.

How is ecoworks helping old buildings become energy-efficient?
Energy consumption is one of the major issues in the contemporary built environment. Moreover, as buildings get older they tend to consume more and more energy. At ecoworks, the idea is to arrest the problem and reverse the process. As of now, we have successfully implemented the patented technique in multi-storied buildings consisting of up to four floors. Using a proprietary algorithm based on over 100 parameters, we search through public building registries and satellite photos to identify and rank the finest candidate buildings for renovation.

Once the building is identified, we conduct a 3D scan of the structure, from which a digital twin is made. Blueprints for panels that will fit over the existing walls using this twin are then created. The panels are put together by robots and come with windows, ventilation, pipe conduits and solar panels on the roof. All these elements together wrap around the existing structure and act as its second skin. We have a set of specially trained professionals to carry out the installation of these panels onsite and complete it in a few weeks.

Tell us about one of your initial projectswhere the installation of the second skin led to a turnaround.
A 1930s apartment complex in a tiny German town was one of our earliest initiatives. For this project, we also did a lot of interior renovation, which we normally don't do.Hence unlike a standard time span of 12 weeks, we took 25 weeks to complete it.We tracked the variations in the building鈥檚 energy consumption and designed a prefabricated envelope. Prior to refurbishment, the 12-unit structure had one of the lowest energy-efficiency ratings in the nation, using 450 kWh of energy per sqm.

To read the full interview, CLICK HERE

A German startup revives old buildings with a second skin, converting them into an energy-efficient asset and restoring the lost energy balance. CW speaks to Emanuel Heisenberg, Founder & CEO, ecoworks, to understand the process and the company鈥檚 plans for India. How is ecoworks helping old buildings become energy-efficient? Energy consumption is one of the major issues in the contemporary built environment. Moreover, as buildings get older they tend to consume more and more energy. At ecoworks, the idea is to arrest the problem and reverse the process. As of now, we have successfully implemented the patented technique in multi-storied buildings consisting of up to four floors. Using a proprietary algorithm based on over 100 parameters, we search through public building registries and satellite photos to identify and rank the finest candidate buildings for renovation. Once the building is identified, we conduct a 3D scan of the structure, from which a digital twin is made. Blueprints for panels that will fit over the existing walls using this twin are then created. The panels are put together by robots and come with windows, ventilation, pipe conduits and solar panels on the roof. All these elements together wrap around the existing structure and act as its second skin. We have a set of specially trained professionals to carry out the installation of these panels onsite and complete it in a few weeks. Tell us about one of your initial projectswhere the installation of the second skin led to a turnaround. A 1930s apartment complex in a tiny German town was one of our earliest initiatives. For this project, we also did a lot of interior renovation, which we normally don't do.Hence unlike a standard time span of 12 weeks, we took 25 weeks to complete it.We tracked the variations in the building鈥檚 energy consumption and designed a prefabricated envelope. Prior to refurbishment, the 12-unit structure had one of the lowest energy-efficiency ratings in the nation, using 450 kWh of energy per sqm. To read the full interview, CLICK HERE

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Reliance, Diehl Advance Pact for Precision-Guided Munitions

Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and Reliance Group鈥檚 Founder Chairman Anil D. Ambani have held discussions to advance their ongoing strategic partnership focused on Guided and Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), under a cooperation agreement originally signed in 2019.This collaboration underscores Diehl Defence鈥檚 long-term commitment to the Indian market and its support for the Indian Government鈥檚 Make in India initiative. The partnership鈥檚 current emphasis is on the urgent supply of the Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition system to the Indian Armed Forces.Simultaneously, the 鈥淰ulc..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Modis Navnirman to Migrate to Main Board, Merge Subsidiary

Modis Navnirman Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a key strategic initiative involving migration from the BSE SME platform to the Main Board of both BSE and NSE, alongside a merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Shree Modis Navnirman Private Limited.The move to the main boards marks a major milestone in the company鈥檚 growth trajectory, reflecting its consistent financial performance, robust corporate governance, and long-term commitment to value creation. This transition will grant the company access to a broader investor base, improve market participation, en..

Infrastructure Urban

13 Jun 2025

Global Capital Flows Remain Subdued, EMEA Leads in Q1 2025

The Bharat InvITs Association鈥檚 industry update for Q1 2025 shows subdued global capital flows, with investment volumes remaining at the lower end of the five-year range despite a late 2024 recovery. According to data from Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, activity in North America declined slightly, while EMEA maintained steady levels and emerged as the top region for investment in standing assets.The EMEA region now hosts seven of the top ten cross-border capital destinations for standing assets, pushing the United States鈥� share of global activity below 15 per cent. Meanwhile, in..