Converting cold attics - Creating energy efficient and sustainable living space through conversion of cold attics to habitable spaces in Sweden
(2025) AEBM01 20251Division of Energy and Building Design
- Abstract
- Cold attics are a common element present in the Swedish residential building stock. They are known to be prone to mould problems due to their low ventilation and are one of the main channels through which buildings lose heat. One of the strategies that can help solve cold attic problems and at the same time contribute to solving the housing crisis is their conversion into habitable spaces. This research studied the attic conversion into new apartments for three properties located in Malmö. The environmental impact of the conversion, the daylighting performances of the new dwellings were assessed and the impact on each building’s energy performance were assessed. All the attic conversion proved to be a helpful measure to reduce their energy... (More)
- Cold attics are a common element present in the Swedish residential building stock. They are known to be prone to mould problems due to their low ventilation and are one of the main channels through which buildings lose heat. One of the strategies that can help solve cold attic problems and at the same time contribute to solving the housing crisis is their conversion into habitable spaces. This research studied the attic conversion into new apartments for three properties located in Malmö. The environmental impact of the conversion, the daylighting performances of the new dwellings were assessed and the impact on each building’s energy performance were assessed. All the attic conversion proved to be a helpful measure to reduce their energy use and, at the same time, be a sustainable way to create new housing with a quality daylighting access. The study also discussed additional benefits from attic conversion, such as the potential value increase of the properties, the access to social and public services of the new apartments and why attic conversion can be considered a more sustainable way to create new housing compared to urban expansion. A set of alternative strategies and measures are also presented to show how the findings of this study could be further improved. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Converting cold attics into habitable spaces in Sweden
The building industry has been recently focusing on three main missions: rapidly creating new and affordable housing, improving the energy performance of the existing buildings and reducing the environmental impact of new constructions. Tackling each issue separately is already a big challenge for the engineers and architects, but what if there were solutions that can solve all of them at the same time? Converting cold attics into apartments is one of them.
Cold attics are one of the weak points buildings. Not only they contribute to increase the energy demand by absorbing the heat rising from the apartments below, but they are also known for the presence of mould and moisture... (More) - Converting cold attics into habitable spaces in Sweden
The building industry has been recently focusing on three main missions: rapidly creating new and affordable housing, improving the energy performance of the existing buildings and reducing the environmental impact of new constructions. Tackling each issue separately is already a big challenge for the engineers and architects, but what if there were solutions that can solve all of them at the same time? Converting cold attics into apartments is one of them.
Cold attics are one of the weak points buildings. Not only they contribute to increase the energy demand by absorbing the heat rising from the apartments below, but they are also known for the presence of mould and moisture problems that could irreparably damage the roof structure.Converting these spaces would therefore solve these issues while also creating new housing with what we already have.
To test these hypotheses, this research studied the conversion of the attics of five different buildings located in Malmö into apartments with a maximum size of 35 m2. The conversions differed both in the building typology, by choosing different construction periods and attic shapes, but also in the solutions applied for the design of the apartments. Choosing different construction periods also allowed for a more extensive study, which could potentially be replicated to the numerous similar buildings in the city.
Several benefits were found from the simulated effects of the conversions. All the studied buildings got promoted by at least one energy class. Where the conversion was paired with an additional energy efficiency renovation as the additional external insulation, the building improved by two energy classes. The environmental impact of the materials used and the construction of the new apartments also proved to be a solution with a much lower carbon impact than the average new residential construction in Sweden. The benefits discovered from were not only limited to the topics mentioned until now. Converting cold attics also means creating high-quality apartments that are well connected to the social life of the city, taking inspiration from the “15-minute city” model. The conversion of cold attics also resulted in lower costs for the rest of the tenants of the existing building, extending the benefits also to those who are not the direct users of the new apartments.
This study did not aim at providing detailed plans and designs for the new apartments but rather focused on demonstrating how and why the conversion of cold attics can become a viable option to solve most challenges that the building industry is facing today. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9195048
- author
- Archesso, Elia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- AEBM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Cold Attics, Conversion, Mould, Daylight, Housing
- language
- English
- id
- 9195048
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-10 10:29:51
- date last changed
- 2025-06-10 10:29:51
@misc{9195048,
abstract = {{Cold attics are a common element present in the Swedish residential building stock. They are known to be prone to mould problems due to their low ventilation and are one of the main channels through which buildings lose heat. One of the strategies that can help solve cold attic problems and at the same time contribute to solving the housing crisis is their conversion into habitable spaces. This research studied the attic conversion into new apartments for three properties located in Malmö. The environmental impact of the conversion, the daylighting performances of the new dwellings were assessed and the impact on each building’s energy performance were assessed. All the attic conversion proved to be a helpful measure to reduce their energy use and, at the same time, be a sustainable way to create new housing with a quality daylighting access. The study also discussed additional benefits from attic conversion, such as the potential value increase of the properties, the access to social and public services of the new apartments and why attic conversion can be considered a more sustainable way to create new housing compared to urban expansion. A set of alternative strategies and measures are also presented to show how the findings of this study could be further improved.}},
author = {{Archesso, Elia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Converting cold attics - Creating energy efficient and sustainable living space through conversion of cold attics to habitable spaces in Sweden}},
year = {{2025}},
}