What is Retrofit?
In July 2021, a law to revitalize old buildings in downtown São Paulo was approved by the city government, with the aim of densifying the region, transforming old and abandoned buildings into residential and revitalized areas.
But what does all this have to do with retrofitting?
The name comes from the English “fit” and means to put in shape, so to speak – retro. So retrofit, literally speaking, would be something like restoring the good shape of old buildings, updating the old.
Well, the term gained popularity on the internet after the law was passed, but the practice of retrofitting and the use of the name have been around for many years. In fact, the revitalization of old buildings has been happening for several centuries, but the way this revitalization is being thought of today has very current characteristics.
Retrofitting is exactly what Law 17,577/2021 addresses. It is a strategy to recover, restore and revitalize old buildings. It mainly aims to improve people's living conditions in large cities, reduce costs and preserve historical and architectural heritage.