Circular Buildings from Waste and Salvage

Proposing buildings made from waste and salvaged materials requires a whole new paradigm for a design and construction process. If we wish to create a more ecologically grounded built environment, based on circular approaches,... [ view full abstract ]

Proposing buildings made from waste and salvaged materials requires a whole new paradigm for a design and construction process. If we wish to create a more ecologically grounded built environment, based on circular approaches, we need to devise a system and infrastructure that is suited to the characteristics of the materials supply process that will achieve this. Two aspects need to be addressed:

• From the demand side the building design community needs to review and adapt conventional practices to increase demand for, and effectively integrate, reclaimed materials and components.
• From the supply side the reclaimed material sector needs to revise its processes and marketing to improve security of supply, information, standardisation, and communications so that it finds a broader audience for its products.

Both aspects need different responses and appropriate processes. This paper will address the first aspect, and consider what strategies need to be adopted by design teams to increase use of reclaimed materials and components. Standard project management approaches and stages typically used by architects may need to be adapted to facilitate a process better suited to circular strategies. Using analysis of completed project this paper will review some key characteristics of a delivery process based on circular principles.

A market for salvaged materials and components needs to develop in each country with regular availability and easy exchange though web sites, suppliers and other market mechanisms. Until this happens, the starting point for designers will often be identifying an inventory of potential second use materials and components, and developing design ideas around the material’s tectonic characteristics. This be a restriction or a positive inspiration for creating meaningful ecological architecture suitable for the circular economy. Since availability of reclaimed materials and components is currently less predictable, flexibility and tolerance to alternatives by the project team and client are important. This allows opportunities to be grasped when they present themselves, even if it is not at the most favourable time in the schedule. This is assisted by an integrated design approach, and the design team needs to be prepared to revisit decisions when new material opportunities arise. Sourcing reclaimed materials and components requires designers to foster new relationships with organizations they may not traditionally be in touch with.

The paper will be based on research carried out for a forthcoming book on resource reuse in construction that provides guidance to architects about the opportunities and how to approach maximising reuse.