Business · Companies · 12 hrs ago
Ramboll Germany chief urges more reuse of existing buildings
Mark Meier, head of Ramboll Germany, says the property sector is overlooking existing buildings.
He argues that buildings, land and materials can be adapted for new uses instead of being treated as resources to discard.
He says the most sustainable property is often one that already exists.
Meier calls for greater willingness to transform existing structures.
Drawing on his experience in Denmark, he says planning should consider how a place serves its surroundings, bringing together transport, energy, water and different uses.
He sees this joined-up approach as a way to build more resilient cities and identifies Hamburg’s HafenCity as an example.
The interview gives no specific next steps for putting his proposals into practice.
Ramboll Germany Managing Director Mark Meier says the property sector should make greater use of existing buildings, land and materials.
He argues that existing buildings can be adapted and reused rather than treated as resources with no further potential.
Meier says transformation requires more courage and that planning should consider how a place serves its wider surroundings.
He points to Hamburg’s HafenCity as a model, according to the article’s headline and introduction.
Meier has led Ramboll Germany since 2025.
- Who
- Mark Meier, managing director of Ramboll Germany.
- What
- He is calling for more transformation and reuse of existing buildings and other property resources.
- When
- The interview was published on 23 October 2026. Meier has been managing director since 2025.
- Where
- Germany; the article is datelined Berlin.
- Why
- Meier says buildings, land and materials are too rarely treated as resources that can be developed or repurposed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ramboll was founded in Denmark.
Mark Meier became managing director of Ramboll Germany.
Handelsblatt published its interview with Meier.
- Company
- Ramboll was founded in Denmark in 1945
- Ramboll operations
- Active in 35 countries
- Germany chief
- Mark Meier, managing director since 2025
- Meier’s previous employer
- BASF, where he worked for 17 years
- Publication date
- 23 October 2026
What people are saying
The greatest untapped potential lies in existing buildings.
The most sustainable property is often the one that already exists.
To unlock this potential, we need more courage to transform existing structures.