There are many reasons why we need a circular economy in architecture. Given that we only have one planet Earth and that on May 12th we exhausted in Spain all the resources we had for the entire year (we are already using resources from the future), it is urgent to apply the circular economy that exists in many areas and dimensions. Architecture cannot be less, therefore, it is necessary to redefine our relationship with buildings as a whole, considering their use and how they can be reused more efficiently. To better understand what circular architecture means, we must first understand what the term circular economy consists of:
What is the circular economy?
It is one of the main challenges we face in the context of our interdependent world. It is an economy based on a closed-loop model that involves the generation, production, supply, and use of resources, where each segment of the system tries to minimize its impact on the environment and to do so seeks to create a flow of products or services that recovers possible energy costs through reuse and recycling.
How is the circular economy applied to architecture?
This is where the concept of circular architecture comes into play. It is a revolutionary concept that aims for buildings to be sustainable and environmentally friendly based on a circular economy. This means that, instead of consuming resources from nature and others, buildings could be designed in such a way that these natural resources are recycled and create new products for use: In this way, the circular economy means that no more waste will be generated, as we can reuse things over and over again by producing new things.
Circular architecture is a new way of designing buildings, which involves the use of circular elements and references. In recent decades, it has mainly been about objects or products, but we must now start from circularity as a tool to design user experiences. This approach could be applied not only to our buildings but also to urban centers and the cities themselves to improve habitability.
How is it different from conventional architecture?
Our conception of architecture is linear. We start with a point and then move towards a specific objective. This way of designing is not sustainable, because we are always looking for bigger answers, with more resources. To better understand what circular architecture means, we must first understand how we have been designing buildings until now: we have been designing buildings as if they were alive, as if they were living organisms. But that is not the case. It is just a biological process that needs energy and water.
The reality of the construction sector:
The design of buildings and their technology is a major consumer of natural resources, energy, and waste. It is urgent to apply circular architecture. This implies a total change of mentality in our way of doing architecture and the emergence of new professional specialties. The construction sector is one of the main consumers of natural resources and energy, and it is also responsible for more than 45% of the waste we generate.
Why circular?
Our worldview is circular. It is about cycles, about systems and processes that change slowly and that can be traced back in time to their origin and forward to their end. It is about the richness of life that, from one moment to the next, evolves in a continuous dance with nature. And it deals with buildings, both physical structures and abstract concepts that last for decades or centuries.
Circular architecture is based on the idea that we need a new design process, where design is no longer just something we do, but has become an integral part of our culture. The current traditional model of building design is based on a linear paradigm: you start with an idea and build what you imagine before presenting it to the client.
The circular economy represents a major change in the way buildings and products are designed. It means designing things that work the same as in our grandparents’ time, but using the same resources, materials, and energy sources as today. This change in mentality would lead to a balance between consumption and production, between the product life cycle and the consumption cycle. Structures would be designed with durability as the main design objective so that they can last several years or even centuries.
With the circular economy in mind, a new generation of architects and professionals should evolve that leads us to create more sustainable buildings. The best way to do this is perhaps by creating a school of architecture that leads to these specialized professions.
The importance of surrounding yourself with good architects: Arquifach
Building a home is a process whose success depends on many factors. The best way to ensure it is to count on architects who offer guarantees. A guarantee that is based on experience. It is important to choose an architecture studio that guides you throughout the process from the initial design to the delivery of the final documentation to inhabit the house, that has experience in the area and qualified personnel to carry out the comprehensive management of the project, but above all that designs according to your needs and expectations.
