House of Circularity

Abstract

This thesis has been conducted under the studio Cross Domain Lab: City of the Future in collaboration with BNA Onderzoek (Stad van de Toekomst). The studio focused on the opportunities and challenges our cities (currently) face in order to prepare for the near future of 2040. This research deals with the currently critical notion of ‘circularity’ (originated from the Circular Economy). Circularity correlates highly with sustainability and therefore with the welfare of our planet. The Paris Agreement and the Commodity Agreement induced the Circular Economy to catch momentum. Many municipalities, especially in the Netherlands, placed circular developments higher on their agenda. Rotterdam was one of the first to state a bold ambition to become a fully circular city by 2050. However, recent studies have shown that, even after the international agreements, our current commitments have not proved sufficient.

Within architecture circularity is mainly measured through performance related aspects, such as recyclability, reusability, and demountability. However, in this thesis circularity has been placed in a different context. The year 2050 is relatively short to transform an existing city and economy to a circular one, but considerably long enough to influence and educate the next generations to embrace and adopt circularity as their standard.

On the one hand there are many people who are still unfamiliar with circularity, or do not know in what ways they can contribute to the economy. On the other hand, there are people (and also students) who have brilliant circular ideas but cannot afford the resources to execute them.

Instead of approaching circularity in a conventional way, this thesis made a distinction between hard and soft characteristics of circularity and classified them as short-term and long-term achievements respectively. The soft characteristics are circular interventions that have education, interaction, and spreading awareness as their main focus. Promoting the works of circular initiatives, facilitating interaction between users and actors, and providing space for people who want to engage with circularity is a critical and necessary venture for the future of our planet.

The project investigated how architecture can contribute to boost circular awareness in order to influence behavior and activate interaction. It is called ‘House of Circularity’ and resulted in a hybrid building that accommodates educational programs, dedicated workspaces for circular initiatives, commercial facilities, flexible office spaces, (short-stay) hotel, and apartments. The project consists of two plinths and towers on either side of the railway, and a public plateau that connects both structures and the two districts. The complex is a modest tribute to the place’s history and the former Hofpoort (city gate). The two towers mark the transition in the skyline between the Central District and Rotterdam North.

This project is a critical statement towards traditional and conventional approaches to circularity. It is an attempt to make circularity transparent and accessible for the public in order to spread a message; The future of our city concerns us all, therefore a healthy planet is a waste-free planet!