Building a resilient future with MULTICARE

Climate change is transforming our world. Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and droughts are becoming more common, putting immense pressure on our cities and buildings. To face these challenges head-on, the MULTICARE project is pioneering new ways to design and adapt buildings for a multi-hazard reality.

Funded by the European Union, this exciting initiative brings together experts from across Europe to develop innovative, low-carbon solutions. Let's dive into how MULTICARE is shaping a more resilient future for our built environment!

Why do our buildings need to adapt?

Many of our buildings were designed for a different era. A structure built to withstand earthquakes might not be ready for a flood, and a building designed for cold winters may struggle during intense summer heatwaves. This siloed approach to safety is no longer enough.

MULTICARE tackles this by focusing on multi-hazard resilience. The goal is to create adaptable, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that protect communities from the cascading impacts of climate change. By testing new technologies in real-world sites across the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy, the project ensures its innovations are practical and effective.

Evdokia Stavridou, Computational Engineer at OMRT, about the project: "Collaborating with pioneers from both academic and industry sectors on the MULTICARE project has been a truly remarkable experience. Beyond pushing the boundaries of building design and gaining new insights into climate resilience, it has been deeply satisfying to see our parametric approach and environment create a tangible impact on projects of such a large scale. The valuable insights our solutions have provided in this project are a clear realization of our main goal, confirming that our work highly contributes in building practices toward a more resilient and sustainable future."

What makes MULTICARE different?

MULTICARE stands out with three game-changing objectives that are redefining building resilience.

1. Innovative low-carbon technologies

The project is developing "plug-and-play" technologies designed to have a minimal carbon footprint. These include multifunctional exoskeletons for retrofitting older buildings and tailored packages for new constructions. By creating modular and scalable solutions, MULTICARE makes climate adaptation more accessible for everyone.

2. Advanced digital tools

MULTICARE provides powerful digital tools for designers, engineers, and policymakers. These tools allow for a complete evaluation of a building's resilience by integrating structural, environmental, and socio-economic factors. This holistic approach helps us understand how disasters truly impact communities and plan more effectively.

3. Open-access knowledge

Collaboration is at the heart of MULTICARE. Many of the project's results, from simulation tools to performance databases, are made open-source. This commitment to sharing knowledge sparks global innovation and accelerates the adoption of climate-resilient building practices worldwide.

OMRT’s role in driving innovation

As a key industry partner, OMRT is turning cutting-edge research into practical tools for the building sector. One of our most exciting contributions is a new workflow for modelling heatwaves.

Previously, analysing the impact of a heatwave on an urban area could take a month. Our cloud-based system does it in just a few hours! This incredible speed allows urban planners to test designs, iterate ideas, and optimise for heat resilience in real-time, making our cities safer and more comfortable.

We also created a comprehensive database on how different building facades perform against hazards like floods, earthquakes, and heatwaves. This resource helps architects make informed decisions quickly, streamlining the design of resilient buildings.

To ensure these advancements have a lasting impact, OMRT is developing an open-source plugin. This will empower designers everywhere to conduct multi-criteria analyses and build resilience into their projects.

A collaborative vision for the future

The MULTICARE project is more than just technology; it's a blueprint for a sustainable future. By bringing together universities and industry leaders, we are proving that collaboration is the key to solving complex climate challenges.

The project’s focus on retrofitting is particularly important. Most of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, so transforming our existing building stock is critical.

The tools and insights from MULTICARE offer valuable resources for architects, urban planners, and policymakers. As we continue on this four-year journey, we are excited to share our progress and contribute to a more climate-resilient world for generations to come.