Scandi Byg is constructing autism housing in compliance with the strict environmental standards of the EU Taxonomy.

In the summer of 2026, a new residential facility will be completed at the former Pindstrup Centre on Djursland, which has stood empty for the past two years. Njordrum Care is behind the transformation, which includes an extensive renovation of the main building as well as new housing units built using modules from Scandi Byg. The project is being carried out in line with the requirements of the EU Taxonomy, which is expected to become a standard in construction in the coming years.

A total of 30 modules will become 22 modern homes, common areas and staff facilities covering 1,508 m², forming the framework for a new residential offering for adults with autism when the major renovation and new buildings are completed in 2026. The modular construction is delivered by Scandi Byg in collaboration with Njordrum Care, who is building according to the EU Taxonomy for the first time.

The requirements define when an economic investment in construction can be considered sustainable and include benchmarks related to various environmental impacts. For example, the EU Taxonomy demands a significantly higher level of documentation than other schemes. In the construction of the new facility, special focus is placed on Environmental Objective 1, which requires an energy consumption level 10 percent below the national building regulations. Although this is Scandi Byg’s first project where the Taxonomy is the primary benchmark, the modular producer has been well-prepared to meet these requirements for several years.

“Scandi Byg has, for many years, built according to strict environmental standards such as the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and DGNB, which in many respects set similar requirements to the EU Taxonomy. We therefore have extensive experience with documentation and adjusting our modular construction to achieve the lowest possible climate impact. We have worked with the EU Taxonomy before, but the Pindstrup project is the first where we apply it in practice,” says Mads Seneca Simonsen, CEO of Scandi Byg, and continues:

“Our timber-based modules are produced in heated factory facilities, where we maintain a high level of standardisation and control over the construction process. For example, we handle 34 waste fractions and continuously optimise our climate impact, enabling us to meet the expected CO₂ thresholds for 2029 already today. At the same time, we place great emphasis on maintaining a strong working environment and helping people back into employment—an area closely connected to the social safeguards required under the EU Taxonomy.”

Strong focus on reuse and recycling

While the main building of the former Pindstrup Centre—containing workshops and activity areas—is being renovated, the remaining buildings will be demolished to make room for modern homes that meet today’s standards for autism housing. Steffen Toft, CEO of Njordrum Care, explains:

“We had hoped to retain and renovate the existing buildings, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible to convert the former residential areas while meeting the increased requirements for housing developments—and our ambition for what this place should offer future residents. Instead, we have focused on reusing as many materials as possible. Windows and roof tiles are being removed and reused as new building materials,” he says, adding:

“Modular construction fits well with this mindset, as it produces very little waste during the building process. Timber modules can even be dismantled again or moved to a new location. The transformation of the Pindstrup Centre is an interesting case from which we can draw important learnings for future projects, where we expect the EU Taxonomy to be the standard.”

Fact box: The EU Taxonomy

The EU Taxonomy Regulation is a European classification system that defines which economic activities can be considered environmentally sustainable. To comply, a construction project must contribute substantially to at least one of six environmental objectives without harming the others. It must also meet social minimum safeguards. The six objectives are:

1. Climate change mitigation
2. Climate change adaptation
3. Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources
4. Transition to a circular economy
5. Pollution prevention and control
6. Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems

Fact box: Autism housing in Pindstrup

Client: Njordrum Care
Modular builder: Scandi Byg
Area: 30 modules totalling 1,508 m²
Scope: 22 homes, common areas and staff facilities
Construction period: 2025–2026