Circular Design

A systems approach that designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.

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The Nantes School of Architecture by Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal shows how flexible design enables buildings to adapt over time and be reused—extending their lifecycle and reducing waste.

Principles of Circular Design

Circular design is a systems-based approach that reimagines the life cycle of buildings and materials. It aims to eliminate waste, reduce environmental impact, and regenerate natural systems. At its core, circular design views waste as a design flaw—something to be prevented at the outset, rather than managed at the end. This philosophy repositions design as a key tool in combating global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Waste is simply a resource in the wrong place. Michael Braungart Co-Author of Cradle to Cradle

This approach shifts us away from the traditional "take-make-use-dispose" model by embedding longevity, adaptability, and reuse into the very fabric of the built environment. Inspired by thought leaders like Michael Braungart and William McDonough, circular design considers the broader social and ecological consequences of every design decision.

Challenges Addressed by Circular Design

The built environment is the largest global consumer of raw materials, responsible for more than three billion tonnes of material use annually. As urban populations grow and demand intensifies, this sector places mounting stress on finite natural resources, contributes significantly to carbon emissions, and creates massive amounts of waste.

Infinito Delicias in Spain

The Holcim Foundation Awards prize-winning Infinito Delicias by Husos, Elii, and Ultrazul reuses 95% of an industrial structure in Madrid, integrating biomaterials and a bioclimatic envelope to create a circular, community-focused hub.

Circular design offers a way forward by turning construction and demolition waste into value. It addresses challenges like resource scarcity, volatile materials pricing, and ecological degradation by rethinking how we design, build, and operate infrastructure. Through circular thinking, waste can be transformed into “nutrients” for new processes—supporting a healthier, more resilient human habitat.

Case Studies and Examples

Several pioneering projects exemplify the potential of circular design:

These cases highlight the power of design to extend material lifespans and create buildings that adapt, evolve, and sustain.

USD 100 billion / year

Potential saving if circular economy principles were adopted to enhance global construction industry productivity.

- World Economic Forum, 2016

Implementing Circular Design in Practice

Adopting circular design strategies means rethinking every stage of the built environment’s life cycle—from material selection to end-of-use scenarios. Designers must plan for longevity, disassembly, reparability, and efficient maintenance. This includes building robust structures with durable materials, as well as ensuring that different building elements—each with its own lifespan—can be separated and reused independently.

Extending the Cycle in Switzerland

Experimentation in the realm of integral circularity becomes reality in a Holcim Awards winner project, Extending the Cycle . In Winterthur, Switzerland the K.118 building adaptively reuses an existing warehouse, inclusive of a new 3-storey superelevation. The newly designed portions incorporate salvaged construction and demolition waste, and recycled building materials. The design team pushed themselves to the limit, and designed re-use solutions for as much building components as feasible, achieving a 60% carbon emission reduction (around 500 tons), while delivering the building within budget and on schedule, despite sourcing hurdles.

Beyond sustainability, circular design is evolving into regenerative design—a framework that goes further than “doing less harm.” Regenerative design aims to heal ecosystems, replenish natural resources, and create spaces that are beneficial for both people and planet. It integrates environmental stewardship with social equity and economic resilience.

Circular and regenerative design are not just trends—they are essential pathways toward a viable future for our cities and communities.

Further reading on circular design