Circular Design
A systems approach that designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
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.
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:
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Infinito Delicias (Spain)
This project transformed an industrial building in Madrid into a community hub, reusing 95% of the structure and integrating biomaterials and greenery—demonstrating circular design and collective sustainability in action.
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Fujian Tulou (China)
This project by DnA_Design and Architecture adaptively reuses traditional tulou buildings, preserving cultural heritage while creating a new model for sustainable rural revitalisation.
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NUS Yusof Ishak House (Singapore)
A retrofit of a 1970s university building that targets net-zero energy—showcasing how existing structures can be transformed for a low-carbon future through adaptive reuse.
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Extending the Cycle (Switzerland)
A warehouse in Winterthur is transformed with a three-storey addition made from salvaged and recycled materials—cutting carbon emissions by 60% and showcasing the potential of circular design.
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Nantes School of Architecture (France)
Designed by Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, this adaptable building supports evolving user needs and multiple life cycles—extending its relevance over time while reducing the environmental impact of demolition.
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Viaduct Housing Project (Italy)
This project transforms disused freeway viaducts into apartments, using existing pillars as structural anchors. Sustainable features include geothermal energy and rainwater recycling.
These cases highlight the power of design to extend material lifespans and create buildings that adapt, evolve, and sustain.
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
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Project Update
NUS Yusof Ishak House Nears Completion as Singapore’s First Net-Zero Heritage Retrofit
Holcim Foundation Awards winning project stays true to its original design while advancing practical sustainability on campus
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Project Update
Fujian Tulou Adaptive Reuse Project Reaches Key Construction Milestone
Xu Tiantian’s Holcim Foundation Award-winning work reimagines rural heritage for contemporary community life
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Media Release
Striatus: The first-of-its-kind 3D concrete printed bridge
A blueprint for the future