Making the Circular Built Environment a Reality: A Call for Collaboration

News - 08 June 2023 - Communication BK

Join us on July 6th at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment for a public debate on transitioning to a circular built environment. As members of the Circular Built Environment (CBE) Hub, we recognise the need for a systemic change and the importance of collaboration in this transition.

We echo the concerns raised in the recent report by Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving, and want to highlight and discuss how to overcome some of the barriers hindering the transition in the building sector. The role of space is often overlooked, and circular initiatives lack implementation and upscaling. Additionally, the potential of synergies between value chains remains largely unexplored.

The CBE Hub is actively engaged in research projects to address these barriers. We emphasise circular design principles in architecture and the integration of circularity in urban planning, combining different value chains and engaging in co-creation processes. Our research also focuses on policy development, incentivising circular innovation and changing organisational processes and how to facilitate a just transition. Furthermore, we explore bio-based materials, reusing and repurposing buildings, urban mining, and other circular design strategies.

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment is committed to fostering circularity in education programs, equipping the next generation with the necessary skills. However, we acknowledge that we still live in a waste-based society and need to upscale the impact of circular innovations.

Looking ahead, collaboration is paramount. We invite institutions, organizations, and individuals to join us in envisioning circular futures and co-creating the values required for a circular built environment. The CBE Hub is ready to assume an active role in this transformative journey. Let's work together to make the circular built environment a reality!