Verket

As many municipal wastewater treatment plants reach the end of their operational lifespan, there is a growing need for modernization and expansion. This often leads to the decommissioning of existing plants and the construction of larger, centralized facilities elsewhere. Yet these solid and often well-placed infrastructures are left without a new role. Built for a specific function, they still hold great architectural and material value.

Many of these sites are located in unique transition zones — close to water, nature and existing urban environments — offering rare opportunities for rethinking how we use and shape our built environment. Demolishing such facilities comes with major costs — not only financially, but also in terms of environmental impact and loss of social and cultural value.

At the same time, society faces urgent challenges related to climate, biodiversity and resource scarcity. One of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of the construction sector is to build less — and reuse more.

Through the practice-based research project VERKET (The Plant), we explore how decommissioned wastewater treatment plants can be transformed into new places of activity and value — combining water, nature and urban life in new ways.

‍Read the online publication.

Society is evolving rapidly, and it’s crucial to shift from a linear mindset to a circular approach in every aspect of life. The traditional "take-make-waste" mentality, where resources are consumed and discarded, is no longer viable. Decommissioned wastewater treatment plants exemplify this linear thinking, as functioning buildings and infrastructures are often regarded as waste rather than resources. However, when examining the blue, green, and built structures, we uncover untapped potential. Wastewater holds valuable resources that can be returned to society, and the placement of these treatment plants in sensitive transition zones between land and water offers new opportunities to support biodiversity and urban ecosystems.

When old wastewater treatment plants are demolished, we not only lose building materials but also a part of our history and the chance to rethink existing structures. The key question is how we can break free from conventional thinking and develop flexible strategies for recycling and transforming these plants.

Many municipalities are facing imminent closures of wastewater treatment plants, and a holistic approach is needed to integrate these spaces into regenerative urban development. At VERKET, we work with a process that ensures decisions about the future of a decommissioned plant are not solely focused on demolition but on identifying potential and possibilities:

The first step is a comprehensive analysis of the site’s social, historical, ecological, and material context. What values do the buildings hold? What are the needs of the local community? How can the site support ecosystem services? This forms the basis of a strategic development plan, balancing various stakeholders and perspectives.

Next, the site must be activated—removing barriers, opening the area to the public, and experimenting with temporary functions. Prototypes and interactive processes help identify the best solutions, creating a development economy rooted in the site’s unique potential. Through iterative experiments, we can test how biodiversity, recreational purposes, and new functions can be integrated.

In the longer term, the focus shifts to ensuring sustainable management, where buildings are preserved, renovated, and gradually adapted with new functions based on learning and experience. This could include establishing rainwater harvesting, green spaces, urban farming, or new forms of community service. Temporary activities can serve as catalysts, gradually transforming the site into a valuable resource for the community.