There is a growing urbanization trend in Amsterdam, this causes dwellings to be less affordable. That is why several areas in Amsterdam are being densified. One of these areas is Sloterdijk Centrum, a typical monofunctional office park of the 80’s and 90’s. The municipality wants to transform this park to a lively mixed use area by adding new buildings and transforming existing ones. One of the buildings that has the potential to be transformed is the monofunctional office building De Knip. I choose this building for my graduation project, because it addresses two important current issues, namely transformation and high rises. In my graduation project these problems are addressed by transforming the building De Knip to function as a neighbourhood connected within the city. This was done by creating Collective Private Commisioning groups that live in corridors that function like streets. These streets have a high permeability and adaptability in the high rise and a strong focus on nature inclusiveness in the low rise. Its overall strong dwelling atmosphere created the perfect setting for a lively multifunctional building where people can feel at home, express their identity, connect to their neighbours and where future transformations can be carried out easily due to the prefabricated and adaptive design. This design can stimulate the future transformation of Sloterdijk centrum with the liveliness and dwelling atmosphere that it brings and can be an example to similar office areas.

Over the years, the extraction and consumption of raw materials have increased radically, with a 60% increase since 1980. About one-fifth of the material extracted worldwide ends up as waste, corresponding to 12 billion tonnes (Gt) of waste per year. To tackle the increasing consumption and waste in the economy, the Netherlands government introduced the ‘Circular Netherlands in 2050’ plan in 2016, aiming to reduce 50% consumption of primary resources by 2030 and 100% by 2050. As a result, 95% of the secondary materials from the end-of-service-life demolition process of commercial and non-residential buildings in the Netherlands are recycled. However, comparing different R-option on an R-hierarchy model shows a gradual decrease in value retention of the material with recycling. The research focuses on shifting the facade industry from recycling to reuse by moving up the ladder to retain a higher material value. The thesis explores the research question through design research to support the strategic design and development for reusing secondary materials.

Two cases, ODS Jansen and Buurman, are analyzed for their secondary material flow of steel and timber, respectively, through interviews and inventory analysis. A reuse process is systemized and further elaborated on stakeholders’ role (what, how, and when) to support it. A set of design explorations for facades is done to identify potential scenarios for reuse, considering the functional and technical factors that define office building facades in the Netherlands. The proposed hybrid system using the primary and secondary material stream is compared to an alternate non-reuse scenario. The assessment presented a 60% restorative material flow with the MCI score and a saving of 91% for embodied energy (renewable and non-renewable) and 93% for Global Warming Potential with LCIA with reuse of steel mullions in the curtain wall facade.

The research concludes that the reuse of materials for the same function is feasible through R-strategies of direct reuse, repair, refurbish, and remanufacture as long as the embodied value of the material does not change. Furthermore, it is essential to match the demand and supply of secondary materials for establishing the reuse practice at an industrial scale. For this, original material suppliers must take up the role of material resellers in the market. At the same time, manufacturers and architects need to shift their mindset from the use of abundant to ‘scarce’ resources by altering the design process with the three stages of material sourcing, material processing, and material reuse. Sufficient safety margins in design, material inspectors to overcome lack of information, working with the form of supply, changing design habits, and using materials differently are proposed as design solutions to organize the reuse of materials for facades. Lastly, when the existing materials decline, reuse will happen through materials entering the market now. It is essential to consider their design for future reuse to ensure this flow does not face the same set of challenges.

As of 2020, the Netherlands experiences a housing shortage of around 300,000. To respond to the projected demand, around 80,000 houses should be built every year towards 2030. At the same time, the Dutch government has had ambitions and plans towards a circular economy by 2050. Their plans were released in 2016, after which concise reports were made on how to transition certain sectors of the economy towards circularity. These reports are called ‘Transition Agendas’, of which five have been written: Biomass & food, Plastics, Manufacturing industry, Built environment and Consumer goods. This project attempts to merge the housing challenge with the circular ambitions of the Dutch government for the Built Environment, with input from all five Transition Agendas to start.  The Built Environment is one of the largest consumers of resources and energy of any industry. As it stands, this industry relies heavily on primary materials, as conventional materials and ways of construction and demolition are not tailored to reuse or recycling of resources. The other sectors covered by the Transition Agendas also highlight a general reliance on primary materials and a lack of application of reused- or recycled materials by product manufacturers. This may be because the product is not designed to facilitate these processes or since some manufacturers are reluctant to use non-primary resources due to pricing or quality concerns. Pollution and contamination of used products is also a common issue for recycling. Finally, interests and ambitions may vary between parties when it comes to circularity.  This project has three main goals. The first is to connect ambitions and material streams from different resource sectors, the second is to increase the circularity of conventional housing elements and the third is to apply resources from linear material streams in a circular way. The focus of the goals is on the housing envelope. This leads to the main research question: How can the circularity of conventional Dutch housing envelope elements be increased, through the application of residual resources from linear material streams?   First, it is researched how circularity can be defined and measured towards the project goals. Then, contemporary Dutch houses are analysed to distinguish all common envelope elements and their conventional materials. It is then speculated what circular improvements can be made on these elements, either by using the original material in a different way or by using alternative (linear) materials. From these ideas, a handful of promising examples is picked as the basis for creating three product case studies, to compare to conventional products. Based on the entire research process, an advisory framework is created, intended for use by those seeking to apply residual materials into new building elements or to simply develop building elements based on circular principles.  

Office buildings in the Netherlands are problematic. These buildings are often monofunctional and of low architectural value resulting in an average lifespan of only 30 years! The tradition of demolition and new construction of mediocre buildings is harmful for public space and a waste of money, time, and moreover, building materials.
This project explores the architectural possibilities of transforming a typical Dutch office building, the extension of the Palace of Justice in Arnhem, centered around a circular material strategy. In this circular material strategy the existing materials are reused, remade and recycled into the design of the transformation to reduce the environmental impact and reconsider our take-make-waste tradition.
The design transforms the current, monofunctional and low-value extension of the Palace of Justice into a qualitative and flexible structure. By removing the two eastern building parts an urban passage is created allowing the building to position itself strongly into the urban fabric and simultaneously clarifying the hierarchy inside the building. Covering the space in between the rear wings, enlarging the façade openings and creating a central atrium provide the building with the much needed architectural quality and help define a strong and flexible basis.
The far-reaching reuse of building materials in the design, focused especially on the reuse of concrete, results in a CO2 reduction of 85% when compared to new construction of a similar building. Hereby, the projects shows it is worthwhile reconsidering low-value office buildings from both the architectural and sustainability perspective. The circular strategy, with the related large environmental benefits, is an example of how we should approach building materials and never throw them away without second thoughts. By doing this, the project is an exemplary case study of how the architect can contribute to the circular transition and ultimately to a more sustainable world.

The building industry accounts for almost 40% of the total carbon emissions that are directly responsible for climate change. The buildings are now deploying energy-efficient solutions to lower carbon emissions from the operational phase. This adversely affects the share of embodied carbon emissions of building materials. The graduation thesis aims to study and compare the life cycle impact of different materials in building applications. The life cycle assessment method was adapted using certain assumptions to account for circular design approaches. End-of-life scenarios for all the materials were formed and compared using the assessment method. The analysis of materials in different building applications presented a significant difference between bio-based materials and other conventional materials such as steel, aluminium, and concrete. A reduction of almost 120% in the total carbon emissions of the studied building was estimated when bio-based materials were used over the existing materials. The proposed materials, along with energy recovery potential at their end-of-life, even showed the potential to achieve a carbon negative structural system. The proposed scenario of using bio-based material solutions in a building with a longer life span displayed better potential than a circular building construction. The role of biomass in mitigating climate change was thus highlighted.

The overall aim of this research is to review existing facades produced by a leading façade manufacturer and develop new systems corresponding with the company’s main product features and improved for Circular Economic performance by applying the principles of Design for Disassembly. The study is based on a literature research about the Circular Economy, Design for Disassembly and relevant assessment systems for the two terms. Existing projects are reviewed and the findings translated into guidelines for future façade developments. With the guidelines in mind two new systems are developed and rated for their performance on Circularity and Disassembly. The first part of the paper examines the current status of the existing facades for Circularity and Disassembly potential. The second part provides evidence that the adoption of the guidelines can lead to better performances, either incremental by applying limited changes as per produced guideline or more substantial by redesign. For practitioners working on innovative façade systems in the realm of the circular economy this paper provides basic guidelines for designing and rating their concepts. This paper reviews a specialist product on its potential for Circularity and Disassembly, aspects currently gaining in importance.

This research explores the value that smart offices can provide to real estate investors. Through an extensive literature review a theoretical framework is created on the topics of smart technology, added value, the real estate investor and the real estate user. Then, three case studies are studied in depth by interviewing involved stakeholders. For each case an overview is created of what makes the building a smart building. Furthermore a connection is made between the smart technology and the way it contributes to the added values found through the literature review. In the end a Smart Value Map is created that connects smart technology, with added value and the main objectives of the investor. This way, by following the smart value map, smart technology is shown to provide value in various ways. It can improve the satisfaction of the users, it can increase the indoor environment, branding, culture. Furthermore, smart technology can be used to increase operational efficiency to reduce costs, increase adaptability and sustainability.

Our world and environment is facing a multitude of complex and intertwined environmental problems. Man made climate change, caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and causing an array of negative environmental effects. The raw material input and throughput currently necessary to sustain our human activities which create large quantities of waste. The built environment plays a large role in both: accounting to 50% of the raw materials used, 40% of the national waste stream, 40% of the total energy use in the Netherlands and 35% of the CO2 emissions. A proposed solution for the waste problem is the shift from a linear economy to a circular economy. A proposed solution for the energy problem is transitioning to a (nearly) zero energy built environment. In this context, the depth of energy renovation of the existing building stock - which poses the biggest challenge for a (nearly) zero energy building stock - and building for the circular economy both needs to grow.

However, in the current policies in place, energy efficiency and high energy performance of buildings are prioritised over circularity. This can unintentionally result in building design and materials that do not lend themselves for circularity. It is not the high energy performance hindering the adoption of circular building design, but the choice of construction technique and materials. Furthermore, there is also a lack of consensus about how circularity in buildings can be assessed, while there are well known methods of assessing energy performance of buildings.

In this research, technical building design(s) for an energy renovation project are examined, implementing both circularity and energy performance ambitions. These building design(s) are assessed on their energy performance on the one hand, and on their circular performance on the other, by use of an assessment method partly based on existing circularity assessment methods and partly redefined and further developed for use in this thesis. The assessment method contains the following performance indicators: MAT1 intensity of material use, MAT2 environmental cost, MAT3 design for disassembly, MAT4 design for circular life cycles and E1 energy efficiency. This assessment is used the answer the main research question: “To what extent can circularity be implemented in the designs of energy renovation projects?”

The technical design(s) and the assessments of the design(s) thus support the scientific knowledge about the codevelopment of circularity and (nearly) zero energy ambitions in renovation projects, focusing on the meso scale of individual buildings. The research also supports the development of consensus about how the level of circularity in buildings can best be measured.

In de huidige maatschappij worden producten na hun levensduur als afval gezien. Er wordt met een zodanig hoge snelheid een grote hoeveelheid afval geproduceerd dat dit niet op een natuurlijke manier verwerkt kan worden. Dit resulteert in mogelijke schade voor het milieu en de gezondheid van mensen. Deze situatie vraagt om een nieuwe benadering van bouwen en ontwerpen. Afval moet niet meer beschouwd worden als afval, maar als grondstof. Overal waar afval geproduceerd wordt, liggen kansen voor lokaal hergebruik. Om ervoor te zorgen dat resten niet schadelijk zijn voor de stad, moeten naar nieuwe mogelijkheden gekeken worden om met resten om te gaan. Door te streven naar een circulaire economie kan hergebruik gestimuleerd worden.

Ontwerpers kunnen een belangrijke rol spelen bij een transitie van een lineaire naar een circulaire economie. Nu hergebruik een steeds belangrijkere rol begint te spelen, wordt er gezocht naar mogelijkheden om kringlopen te sluiten en een circulaire economie te stimuleren. Hierbij zijn voornamelijk technische vraagstukken in het geding waarbij het doel is om vraag en aanbod van bijvoorbeeld warmte of elektriciteit op elkaar af te stemmen. Voor ontwerpers komen technische vraagstukken in een ander kader te staan.

De transitie van een lineaire naar een circulaire economie vraagt om nieuwe werkwijzen. Om uiteindelijk een ontwerp te kunnen maken dat gebaseerd is op een circulaire economie wordt in deze scriptie een stappenplan aangedragen. Als onderdeel hiervan is een tool ontwikkeld waarmee reststromen met behulp van een tool in kaart gebracht worden, zodanig dat deze hergebruikt kunnen worden in een ontwerp. Het ontwerp dat voortvloeit uit deze scriptie moet aantonen dat het mogelijk is om een ontwerp te maken dat gebaseerd is op restproducten. Het doel van het ontwerp is om reststromen en -producten van verschillende functies met elkaar in verbinding te brengen, zodat de discrepantie tussen vraag en aanbod opgeheven kan worden. Om bewustwording van de mogelijkheden van hergebruik te stimuleren zal het te ontwerpen gebouw een publieke functie krijgen, die afhankelijk is van het soort resten dat uit de directe omgeving beschikbaar is.

De tool die in deze scriptie is ontworpen dient als hulpmiddel om uiteindelijk ontwerpvoorwaarden te formuleren voor het te ontwerpen gebouw. Vanuit meerdere mogelijkheden die op de locatie geboden worden voor een ontwerp, is de volgende ontwerpopgave geformuleerd:

Het creëren van een tweedehands materialenmarkt waarbij de lokale bevolking de materialen kan gebruiken om eigen initiatieven in de openbare ruimte te ontwikkelen.

Door het aangedragen stappenplan te volgen kon worden aangetoond dat vanuit het stedelijk metabolisme ontwerpvoorwaarden voor een gebouw geformuleerd kunnen worden. Hierbij wordt gebruik gemaakt van restproducten uit de omgeving die anders als afval gezien zouden worden. Voor het te ontwerpen gebouw vormen deze restproducten nieuwe mogelijkheden om de omgeving te verbeteren. Op deze manier dienen de restproducten weer als grondstof en is van afval geen sprake. Door de materialen binnen gesloten kringlopen te houden zal de stad op deze locatie meer functioneren als een natuurlijk ecosysteem. Het beoogde ontwerp maakt van de restproducten iets positiefs waar de omgeving van kan profiteren. Door op meerdere plaatsen in de stad naar synergieën te zoeken, waarmee restproducten een nieuw doel kunnen dienen, kan de hele stad minder afhankelijk worden van import van materiaal.

In de Paris Climate Agreement the goal is set to reach an energy neutral built environment by 2050. As a result, there is a high demand for energy neutral refurbishment of the existing housing stock. With the currently low refurbishment rate is it expected to take around 250 years to reach this goal. Due to the high initial investment costs of refurbishment, spread out over a short period of time, replacement and rebuilding is often the preferred option, while refurbishment is significantly less material consuming. Still the environmental impact of a refurbished building appears to be similar to the environmental impact of a new building, when looking at the material use spread out over the lifetime.

The Circular Economy is a solution to the problem of the current linear lifecycle of refurbishment, because it strives for an increased lifetime of the refurbishment by enabling reuse of components at the end of their functional service life and recycling of materials at the end of their technical service life. The Circular Economy aims to close and extend the loops of material cycles, in order to preserve value of materials, resulting in decreased raw material consumption and waste generation.

In this research the level of circularity of the 2nd Skin Façade Refurbishment system, which is a refurbishment strategy that wraps the building into a second layer of insulation, is examined. The level of circularity of the materials as well as the disassembly potential of the connections between the components and materials, have been analysed. Based on the assessment results, a Roadmap for circular façade refurbishment is developed. As validation of the approach, a design proposal is made for the Circular 2nd Skin Façade Refurbishment system, which is a universal refurbishment system that can be applied to different residential building typologies. The system is designed for future changes, as it enables reconfiguration of the façade arrangement and disassembly at the end of its functional lifetime. Instead of ending up as unrecoverable waste, the circular façade refurbishment system can be reused multiple times for the refurbishment of other residential buildings, exploiting the technical lifetime of the materials to the fullest.