Enhancing the resilience of existing buildings using low-damage exoskeletons: a proof of concept through a multi-hazard risk assessment procedure

The building sector, responsible for 35% of global energy use and 38% of CO2 emissions, plays a key role in mitigating climate change. Underperforming building envelopes cause high energy consumption and expose occupants to unsafe climate extremes. Additionally, in seismic- and flood-prone areas, outdated buildings lack resilience, posing severe economic and human risks. Renovation must thus improve energy efficiency, multi-hazard resilience and sustainability through low-carbon and resource-efficient solutions. This study explores a holistic renovation strategy using timber low-damage exoskeletons to enhance seismic resilience while supporting energy-efficient facades. The design also integrates flood-resistant materials and dry flood- proofing measures. A multi-hazard assessment on a case study evaluates resilience improve- ments using seismic, energy, and flood simulations. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the strategy for building renovation, with an overall reduction of about 50% in combined losses.