Abriss – Trailer

In the film “Abriss” Yamen Abou Abdallah accompanied a demolition of a previously vacant building in Braunschweig. The building had not been in use since 2018 and was revitalized in the last two years through a temporary use by a group of friends who were looking for a rehearsal and music space. Over the course of its use, the space, the “B”, has developed into a creative third place in the city where people have gathered, performed and enjoyed music together.

The period of the temporary use is now over and the demolition of the building has begun. What exactly happens when a building is demolished? What are the processes involved? What happens to the construction waste and where are the used materials taken? What will be recycled and reused, and what will end up in landfill? Words such as gray energy, conversion order and life cycle analysis are some of the keywords associated with demolition. What does all of this mean? And what makes the demolition of building so critical in times of climate change?