Value creation within the circular public space
An explorative study of value interpretation and trade-offs in the circular public space
O. El Margaï (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
Q.A.M. Reijtenbagh – Mentor (TU Delft - Real Estate Management)
G. A. Van Nederveen – Mentor (TU Delft - Integral Design & Management)
Erik Jan Houwing – Mentor (TU Delft - Integral Design & Management)
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Abstract
Municipalities are increasingly expected to integrate circular economy (CE) principles into the development of public space. However, the way in which value is conceptualised in this context remains underexplored. This study examines how value is interpreted and weighed in circular public space and introduces a framework to support more structured and transparent decision-making. A two-step research design was applied, combining a systematic literature review with a qualitative case study of the Municipality of Rotterdam based on ten semi-structured interviews. The abductive approach allowed theoretical insights and empirical findings to be iteratively connected. The results confirm that sustainable value creation is broadly recognised as an aim of the CE, although the term circular public space is absent from academic literature. In practice, the concept is acknowledged but mainly reduced to material reuse. Both literature and practice reveal values across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, though social values are most frequently emphasised. Trade-offs between values are currently managed implicitly and ad hoc, with circularity consistently weighed against cost, aesthetics, functionality, and feasibility, causing ambitions to fade as projects progress. To address these shortcomings, the study introduces the Value Trade-off System (VTS), a conceptual framework that structures the identification, prioritisation, and documentation of value trade-offs across project phases. The VTS is not a finished tool but a first conceptual step towards more transparent and accountable decision-making. The study contributes to theory by conceptualising circular public space and advancing understanding of sustainable value creation and value trade-offs, and to practice by providing municipalities with a structured approach to integrate and balance different values in a transparent and accountable way.