Reshaping Modern Urban Renewal & An Investment Duo to Watch

The Biome project: Reshaping modern urban living 

I can’t think of a better way to kick off the Rhomberg Letter than to introduce you to an exciting new project that is reshaping modern urban living: Biome. 

It’s a perfect example of how forward thinking companies can work together to solve global sustainability challenges and remain competitive. I don’t want to hear that construction can’t be sustainable anymore. Urban living in many major cities across the world is caught between a rock and a hard place. There is a global housing need in large urban areas. Families can’t find places that suit their needs, or they can’t afford the ones that do. There are also plenty of buildings that are WAY past their prime. 

Sure, we can tear down and we can build – but it has always been at a cost to our planet. And unfortunately, I’ve seen countless housing development projects prioritize speed and simplicity over quality to save a buck. It’s a short-sighted approach to a complex and growing problem. Like slapping some tape over a hole in the bottom of your boat. It might last your next trip, but you haven’t fixed the problem. Plus, I don’t think our homes should be quick fixes that are thrown together haphazardly. They should be designed to fit our individual needs. A home should promote our health and wellbeing, and that of our family. It should be built to last – a safe place where you can relax and recharge. Where you feel grounded and safe.  

So… 

We need more homes, but we don’t want to kill the planet to do it. 

What to do? 

Biome is the love child of CREE Buildings and EFFEKT Architects. It combines CREE’s modular timber hybrid building system with EFFEKT’s human-first design solutions. 

Think modern, sustainable, modular homes that are perfectly tailored to each resident while still keeping costs affordable. And if your situation changes – you need more space for a new family member, or you take a financial hit. You won’t be forced to uproot your life and leave. Biome homes evolve with you and can adapt to accommodate changes in your lifestyle. Plus, they look sexy as all hell.  

This project gets me excited for so many reasons. It 

• addresses the major global challenge of urban renewal, 
• prioritizes human wellbeing and comfort, 
• has ⅓ of the CO2 emissions of traditional construction methods, 
• proves that we don’t need to wait for future technologies to build more sustainably, 
• is available everywhere in the world using the CREE Infrastructure 

To me, Biome is about more than just building structures.  

It's about creating vibrant, sustainable communities that prioritize the well-being of both residents and the planet. 

It's a model for sustainable urban living. 

There is already one Biome housing project kicking off in the Netherlands, and a second planned in Portugal.

I’d like to give a big shoutout to ABC Vastgoed and Grupo Casais for their trust and enthusiasm for this project.

In Groningen, ABC Vastgoed has incorporated the Biome building system into their Het Vief Kwartier development project. And Grupo Casais is eager to kick off a project in In Guimaraes, Portugal.

If you’re a landowner, developer, authority, or investor with a vision and values that align with Biome, get in touch with us.