For a long time, the built environment has followed a linear model of production and consumption. But in the face of severe global environmental challenges, a new approach is imperative. As Nicola Smith explains, the circular economy involves using less and designing for longevity, disassembly and reuse. The results can be both impactful and awe-inspiring.
The European Parliament describes the circular economy as “a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products … When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible.”1 This is a departure from the traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a take–make–consume–discard pattern.
Circularity requires a shift in thinking that needs to be embedded in our education system and entire building design process, from initial concept through to end-of-life. It involves respecting the intrinsic value
