The Delft scales to aspects circular built environment model

the result of two years of interdisciplinary discussions

Review (2026)
Author(s)

A. Wandl (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)

O. Ioannou (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)

V. Gruis (TU Delft - Real Estate Management)

D. Peck (TU Delft - Environmental & Climate Design)

A. Jenkins (University of Salford)

B. Geldermans (Universiteit Antwerpen)

K. van den Berghe (TU Delft - Urban Development Management)

F. Bucci-Ancapi (TU Delft - Urban Development Management)

T. Tsui (TU Delft - Environmental & Climate Design)

M. van Uden (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)

T. Egger (TU Delft - Urban Studies)

M. Dabrowski (TU Delft - Spatial Planning and Strategy)

P. Medici (TU Delft - Theory, Territories & Transitions)

T. Klein (TU Delft - Architectural Technology)

Research Group
Environmental Technology and Design
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2589890
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
Environmental Technology and Design
Bibliographical Note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
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Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an interdisciplinary academic exchange exploring the transition towards a circular built environment (CBE), developed over two years of collaborative work at Delft University of Technology’s Circular Built Environment Hub. A key outcome of this work is developing a comprehensive definition of the CBE and the related Scales to Aspects model, which connects the multi-scalar and cross-disciplinary nature of circularity, ranging from materials and components to buildings, neighbourhoods, cities, and regions. It highlights critical tensions, such as the lack of integration between circular strategies and other global challenges.

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