Content of Learning Activity

Construction and land use planning are areas that have a major impact on our environment, which is why it is important to explore sustainable and supportive alternatives.

In this learning activity on reuse and circularity of building materials, we will explore concepts and methods to implement concrete alternatives to conventional construction and planning practices, using reuse in a circular context.

The first part of this course (± 6 hours) will focus on the fundamentals of reuse. We will cover definitions and key concepts, such as the circular economy, reuse, reclamation and recycling of building materials. We will explore the history and evolution of reuse in the construction sector, and the environmental and economic issues involved. We will also study examples of emblematic reuse projects in the world, inspired by the innovative and experimental practices of some agencies specialised in circular architecture.

The second part (± 6 hours) will focus on the tools and methods of reuse. We will examine the different techniques of reuse, such as selective deconstruction, material recovery, product reclamation and structural reuse. We will identify the criteria for selecting materials for re-use, such as quality, durability, cost, adaptability and aesthetics. We will also study the stages of a reuse project, including diagnosis, design, implementation and evaluation, drawing on the experimental approaches of some pioneering agencies in this field.

The third part (± 8 hours) will focus on putting reuse into practice. We will study practical cases of re-use projects in construction and urban development, inspired by the concrete achievements of some agencies recognized for their expertise in reuse and circularity of building materials.
We will analyse the social, economic and cultural impacts of reuse projects, and present the different stakeholders involved in a reuse project: project owners, contractors, companies, craftsmen, associations and communities. Finally, we will set up practical group work to design a concrete reuse project based on a project to be carried out locally or based on the project studied by the students as part of the architectural composition course of their course.

The fourth and last part (± 4 hours) will deal with the perspectives and stakes of reuse architecture. We will discuss the prospects for the development of reuse in the construction and urban planning sector, as well as the issues related to the establishment of efficient and sustainable reuse channels that could be integrated into the concept of the productive city. We will study the cultural, organisational and socio-economic stakes of the architecture of reuse, as well as the contribution that the experience of the countries of the South of the world could constitute in terms of reuse, circularity and vernacular approach.

In conclusion, we will draw up an assessment of the course and the learning achieved, and we will put into perspective the current challenges of architecture and urbanism for a more sustainable and united future. This course will allow you to understand the potential of reuse to implement concrete alternatives to conventional practices of construction and planning, by converging participation and frugality for a more responsible and solidarity-based architecture.

Required Learning Resources/Tools

- Toolkit Réemploi -  The Reclaimation Audit — FCRBE : Facilitating the Circulation of Reclaimed Building Elements (available for download on the project website Interreg FCRBE : https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/fcrbe-facilitating-the-circulation-of-reclaimed-building-elements-in-northwestern-europe/news/fcrbe-guides-extraction/) - Interreg North-West Europe - FCRBE
- Reuse Toolkit - Procurement Stragegies - INTEGRATING REUSE IN LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENTS (available for download on the project website Interreg FCRBE : https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/fcrbe-facilitating-the-circulation-of-reclaimed-building-elements-in-northwestern-europe/news/fcrbe-guides-integration/) - Interreg North-West Europe - Bellastock
-  Reuse Toolkit - 36 Material sheets -  available for download on the project website Interreg FCRBE :  (accessible en téléchargement sur le site du projet Interreg FCRBE : https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/fcrbe-facilitating-the-circulation-of-reclaimed-building-elements-in-northwestern-europe/news/fcrbe-guides-extraction/) - Interreg North-West Europe - FCRBE) - Interreg North-West Europe - FCRBE
- Departmental Library

Recommended Learning Resources/Tools

Not applicable

Other Recommended Reading

Site Web :

Bellastock. 2023. " Bellastock ". Bellastock. 2023. https://www.bellastock.com/.
Rotor ASBL. 2023. " Rotor - Brussels | Rotor ". Rotor Brussels. 2023. https://rotordb.org/en.
Rotor, Deconstruction. 2023. " Rotor Deconstruction - Reuse of Building Materials Made Easy ". Rotor Déconstruction. Rotor Deconstruction Scrl. 2023. https://rotordc.com/home.
Construction21. 2023. " #Réemploi - Construction21, le média social du bâtiment et de la ville durable ". construction21.org. 2023. https://www.construction21.org/france/tags/UsOpZW1wbG9p.

Mode of delivery

• Face-to-face

Type of Teaching Activity/Activities

• Cours magistraux
• Conférences

Evaluations

The assessment methods of the Learning Activity (AA) are specified in the course description of the corresponding Educational Component (UE)