DOCSLIB.ORG

OPEN BUILDING and SUSTAINABILITY in PRACTICE Frans Van Der Werf Msc, Arch BNA.1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
OPEN BUILDING and SUSTAINABILITY in PRACTICE Frans Van Der Werf Msc, Arch BNA.1 The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, 10-037 Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005 (SB05Tokyo) OPEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE Frans van der Werf Msc, Arch BNA.1 1 Frans van der Werf, Organic Architecture and Urban Design, Tolweg 12, 2042 EL Zandvoort, the Netherlands, [email protected] Keywords: Open Building, Pattern Language, sustainable technology, user participation Summary The concept of Open Building relates decision making to constructing and maintaining the built environment. It provides the framework for incorporating conditions for user participation, environmental sustainability, public as well as personal health and wellbeing. This paper give a personal account of four key projects designed in my practice of architectural and urban design. First the underlying objectives of the designs are explained: sustainable quality of the built in relation to the natural environment, human wellbeing and user participation. Secondly, the methods applied, are discussed. Open Building provides the framework for decision-making. The Pattern Language is used to communicate design decisions with the users and user groups. The latest insights in ecological building are applied, experimented with and evaluated. Next, these experiences are illustrated by four built projects, the most recent one currently being under construction. In the final analysis it is concluded that the shortest route to a sustainable built environment can be found by connecting a well-structured process of decision making to user participation and sustainable technology. 1. Introduction The sustainability of the built environment has many facets. First of all, the urban fabric needs to be designed in such a way that it can sustain for a very long time. It offers the capacity to contain elements with a shorter life cycle, such as buildings. These buildings need to be designed as base buildings, offering the capacity for fit outs that turn over with changing needs of its inhabitants. John Habraken and the SAR laid the groundwork for this approach, I am happy to have joined this office in the early seventies, having contributed to studies on how to design the urban fabric. Or should we say Open Building? A built environment sustains only if their inhabitants can relate to it. They need to connect and only then the users will decorate it, maintain, defend it, in sort sustain it. Therefore user participation is essential. A sustainable built environment is the construction industry’s contribution to a sustainable natural environment, our environment to survive and to pass on to next generations. Saving materials by shaping them into better spaces in turn, is the first step to make people feel better, it contributes to our physical and mental wellbeing. This not only touches upon the way we select and connect building parts, it also directs the choices of building materials. Open Building offers the framework for my holistic approach to making a built environment that works and gets better over time. Let me try to relate decision-making to user participation and technology as a means to sustain our environment. 2 Applied methods In my architect’s career, I have always had a strong believe in transparency of decision making as a condition for a built environment people love to live in. Open Building structures decision-making, the Pattern Language is the medium to communicate. Information technology is used to connect decisions to construction. This provides the framework to apply the rich body of knowledge on organic architecture and ecological use of materials. 2.1 Open Building If we want to build an environment that sustains and gets better as it ages, we have to appreciate how this process works. John Habraken (1961) and his research staff the SAR (acronym for the Dutch Foundation for Architects Research) suggested to decouple, yet coordinate the urban fabric (‘tissue level’), containing base buildings (‘support level’), containing fit-outs (‘infill level’). The higher level offers capacity to the lower level; specifying the performance of the lower level briefs the higher level. I have always used this layered system of decision-making hands on in my work. This was reported on in my book Open Ontwerpen (‘Open Design’ (1993). Habraken has described the theoretical basis in The Structure of the Ordinary (1998). - 3030 - The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005 (SB05Tokyo) 2.2 Pattern Language Christopher Alexander developed the pattern language as a design tool. The language consists of a large set of ‘patterns’. Each pattern describes in generic terms a spatial solution for general problems, we encounter in the built environment. The patterns follow a fixed format (1977). Patterns can be used as generic guidelines to develop specific spatial design, related to a real project. I have been inspired by existing patterns and written new ones from the outset. By using patterns as a means to communicate with different parties in the design process (from institutional clients to end users), it was given a new dimension. Patterns can describe design directions, before the design is made. These patterns can be used to establish agreement with the parties concerned. After completion of the design, the parties concerned can then check if the architect did his job well, within the conditions agreed upon. Thus the pattern language is used to communicate complex ideas about solutions with non-professional parties, who do understand the generic explanations from generic problem to generic guidelines for the spatial solution. 2.3 Full-scale mockups The fit-out of a dwelling is the domain of the dweller, this can be a one or multi-person household. In a series of sessions, the architect has to learn about the dwellers demands and desires. This can be done around the table, using physical models or computer simulations. I prefer to make sketches during the sessions. The results can then be tested in a one to one full-scale mock-up of the dwelling. To this purpose, the space laboratory of the Eindhoven University of Technology was used. 2.4 CAD systems Every design decision translates into costs. In open ended design and decision-making processes as described above, there will be no two dwellings the same, therefore traditional ways to determine the total costs per dwelling fall short. Already in the stone age of computing we had our custom-made software application that kept track of design decisions and its required materials, parts and components to equip the desired dwelling. Now these programs are widely available, some of them highly sophisticated. The client instantly knows the rent or mortgage implications of any decision made. 2.5 Body of knowledge Above, the ingredients of a transparent decision making process were described as a condition for building a sustainable environment. This is sustainability in terms of quality of the build space. Of even greater importance are the materials used, and the way they are arranged. Buildings need to be energy efficient, materials need to be selected on their lowest possible embodied energy and replaceability. The use of natural materials and highly engineered design go hand in hand. Within the idiom of consciously selected materials they are arranged in a way that deviates from the modernist style of orthogonal building. This is referred to as organic design (figure 1). Figure 1 The organically shaped plan of a housing project including health care facilities in Nieuw Bergen, completed in 2002 The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005 (SB05Tokyo) 3 Four projects Open Building, Pattern Language, well-engineered organic design and IT are applied in all projects of my architects’ practice. In this section four projects are mentioned to illustrate the above. They span the beginning of my carreer (the Molenvliet project) until today, with the presentation of a project, still under construction (the Stadshagen project). 3.1 Molenvliet (1978) This project is located in the city of Papendrecht (greater Rotterdam region), the Netherlands and is a key project in my works, (my first large project) as well as in the history of Open Building. It is a social housing project of 123 units. The tissue design is based on a sequence of courtyards, arranged around streets and connected by alleys. The courtyards alternate in public and private use. The plan has a strict zoning of buildings, public green and parking (figure 2). The support structure consists of load bearing walls with openings that could be bricked up in order to allocate separate spaces to individual dwellings (figure 3). All elements were described in patterns and discussed with the local authorities. Once the dwellers were known, we had individual sessions to establish the infills. Figure 2 Molenvliet, Papendrecht Figure 3 Molenvliet, Papendrecht, support under construction The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005 (SB05Tokyo) 3.2 Pelgromhof (2001) The Pelgomhof is a project in Zevenaar (close ot Arnhem, in the eastern part of the Netherlands). The project integrates social housing with healthcare and public facilities, such as a restaurant, a theatre, additional services and parking. It was my first large project to apply the latest insights in organic architecture (figure 4). Energy and water saving by individual heat pumps and boilers as well as planted roofs were engineered to the state of the art. All new dwellers consulted the architect in order to decide about the lay- out of their new apartment (figure 5). Figure 4 Pelgromhof, Zevenaar Figure 5 Pelgromhof, Zevenaar infill options The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, Tokyo, 27-29 September 2005 (SB05Tokyo) 3.3 Romagne (2002) This is the architect’s house and summer retreat, it was owner built and in many respects an object of experimentation, learning, teaching and evaluation (figure 6). The main structure has low embedded energy by using timber and mud plastered straw (figure 7).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Reflections on the History and Future of the Open Building Network
    Reflections on the History and Future of the Open Building Network September 2015 2 Reflections on the History and Future of the Open Building Network The Origins of the Open Building Network Conferences An informal international network advocating the During the intervening years since the founding of the CIB implementation of what is now called “open building” has W104, we have met 19 times. These meetings, hosted and existed since the early days of the SAR (Stichting Architecten organized by network members and their local supporters, Research in Eindhoven, the Netherlands). Housing for the have taken place in Delft, Brighton (UK), Helsinki, Paris, Millions – John Habraken and the SAR (1960-2000), Bosma, Bilbao, Washington, DC, Boston, Muncie, Indiana (USA), van Hoogstraten, Vos, NAIA, Rotterdam, 2000) helps to tell Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Mexico City, and Durban, this history. After years of such informal contacts, and after South Africa. The ETH / CASE in Zurich agreed to host a an early attempt (SAR INTERNATIONAL) failed to take root in conference in 2015 on The Future of Open Building, and the mid-1980’s, a formal network was successfully discussions are taking place to meet in Korea in 2017. On established in 1996, in a meeting in Tokyo, called CIB W104 occasion, we have met with other CIB Commissions, and Open Building Implementation (www.open-building.org). It members attended some triennial CIB World Congresses. was formed under the auspices of the CIB - the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and The most recent conferences have expanded beyond the Construction (www.cibworld.nl).
    [Show full text]
  • College of Architecture and Planning Annual Report Academic Year 2008 – 2009
    COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING ANNUAL REPORT ACADEMIC YEAR 2008 – 2009 The word is out…. It is a true pleasure to submit this annual report. We have many success stories to report, and we certainly had a lot of fun working on those, but we also had substantial challenges; we all did. In our February issue of e-cap we acknowledged that “every challenge is an opportunity” and that creative minds are particularly well equipped to take advantage of such opportunities. Today we want to celebrate the fact that in spite of financial uncertainty we have been able to continue to move forward in an aggressive quest to take our college to the next level. A fundamental move in that quest has been to build a “dream team” for the college’s departmental leadership. Last fall we welcomed Prof. Mahesh Senagala as our new Chair in the Department of Architecture, this summer we have been blessed with the arrival of Prof. Michael Burayidi as our new Chair in the Department of Urban Planning, and before it gets too cold in January we will be joined by Professor Jody Naderi as our new Chair in the Department of Landscape Architecture. I don’t know of any other college of architecture and planning in the nation with a stronger leadership team. We have adopted the structure of our University’s Strategic Plan and in such a way promote integration and synergy through all our units. We invite you to review this report and share in our excitement and enthusiasm. This is a great time to be at CAP.
    [Show full text]
  • 'The Halfway House'
    ‘the halfway house’ Temporary housing and production facility for parolees in Pretoria West Gerhard Janse van Rensburg © University of Pretoria The halfway house: Temporary housing and production facility for parolees in Pretoria West by Gerhard Janse van Rensburg SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE (PROFESSIONAL) DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Study leader: Marga Viljoen Course coordinator: Jacques Laubscher Mentor: Jacques Laubscher PRETORIA 2011 With thanks to: My loving and supportive parents, The Alcade crowd, The studio crowd, Jacques Laubscher for his commitment and effort, Marga Viljoen for all her support 2 In accordance with Regulation 4(e) of the General Regulations (G.57) for dissertations and theses, I declare that this thesis, which I hereby submit for the degree Master of Architecture (Professional) at the University of Pretoria, is my own work and has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other tertiary institution. I further state that no part of my thesis has already been, or is currently being, submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification. I further declare that this thesis is substantially my own work. Where reference is made to the works of others, the extent to which that work has been used is indicated and fully acknowledged in the text and list of references. Gerhard Janse van Rensburg 3 Contents _ Abstract 7 01 _ Introduction 8
    [Show full text]
  • The Three Stages of Open Building Implementation
    The INTERNATIONAL OPEN BUILDING PLATFORM / Three Stages of Open Building Implementation February 18, 2016 The Three Stages Of Open Building Implementation After several decades of successful academic conferences and exchanges, the international Open Building Network is being reorganized to adapt to evolving circumstances. During these decades, what is now formally known as open building has progressed through several stages. A substantial literature now exists chronicling these developments in several languages including English, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Finnish. It has to be said, however, that what is now called Open Building is not fundamentally new. For millennia, built environment had come into existence as a largely local phenomenon, using shared patterns, types and ways of building, and had always gradually transformed itself in congruence with social realities. This changed in the upheavals of the early 20th century, along with the advent of modernism and functionalism. Ordinary environment became increasingly rigid and unsustainable. Gradually, in different places, largely autonomous reactions to this rigidity and uniformity took form. Open Building is the part of that continuing story outlined in these notes. Initially, what is now called Open Building constituted a set of speculative principles and aspirations that led to research, followed by a number of built projects in several countries in Europe and independently in Japan. In the second stage, open building began to be initiated by clients asking for open buildings – certainly in office and retail markets where this practice has long been conventional and unremarkable – but increasingly in housing and healthcare facilities in a number of countries. In the third stage, open building came to be public policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Architecture in the Fourth Dimension
    New Challenges for the Open Building Movement: Architecture in the Fourth Dimension The Open Building Implementation network (www.open‐building.org) was formed in 1996, under the auspices of the CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction). Members of the CIB W104 now come from many countries - including the incubators of open building Japan and the Netherlands – as well as the USA, the UK, Finland, Israel, Iran, France, Italy, Switzerland, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. Its original purpose was twofold. First, we intended to document developments toward open building internationally. Second, we would stimulate implementation efforts by disseminating information and by convening international conferences at which government and university researchers, practitioners and others could exchange information and support local initiatives. These activities focused largely on the technical and methodological aspects of residential open building. There was interchange between colleagues in the less developed countries and developed countries, but the dominant focus was the latter. During the intervening years, we met at least 17 times, in Delft, Tokyo, Taipei, Washington, DC, Mexico City, Brighton (UK), Helsinki, Paris, Hong Kong, Muncie, Indiana (USA), and Bilbao, Spain, on a few occasions with other CIB Commissions, and at several of the triennial CIB World Congresses. The most recent conferences focused on education and sustainability. Each included an international student competition, with winners from Korea, China, Germany, the UK, Singapore and the USA. Each conference has produced a published book of proceedings, containing a total now of over 300 peer‐reviewed papers. A book titled Residential Open Building was published (Spon, 2000) and later was translated into Japanese.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Developments Toward Open Building in Japan
    [64] The History of Developments toward Open Building in Japan Seiichi Fukao Faculty of environmental Sciences, Department of Architecture; 1-1 Minami-Osawa Hachioji-shi Tokyo 192-0397 Japan, [email protected] ABSTRACT Developments toward Open Building began in Japan at the beginning of the 1970s. In this paper, the author describes the history of these developments, discussing mainly developments in which the author was directly involved. In 1971, the idea of systems building was introduced from the USA and UK, referring to the result of famous systems such as SCSD in California. The experience introducing such systems building was utilized in the development for residential buildings in Japan. The KEP project executed by the Japan Housing Corporation was the first trial toward Open Building in the field of residential buildings in Japan. Century Housing System and other trials followed it. The experimental-housing project NEXT21 was constructed in 1993. Then, the SI house concept spread rapidly at the end of the 1990s, and the KSI system was developed. Today, many construction firms and real-estate companies put the name - the SI house - to their housing projects, Keyword: Open Building, History, Systems building, Japan 1. Characteristics of residential buildings in Japan The history of open building in Japan has different characteristics from those of other countries. Until about 85 years ago, most residential buildings in Japan were made of wood and there were almost no apartment buildings except row houses or terrace houses. The construction of apartment buildings began immediately after the Great Earthquake in 1923, when reinforced concrete began to be used for buildings, and apartment buildings named Dojunkai were built under the influence of social housing activities in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • 2013 Master of Architecture Program Report for NAAB Visit
    Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Department of Architecture ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM REPORT FOR SPRING 2013 NAAB VISIT FOR CONTINUING ACCREDITATION Program Type: Master of Architecture Option 1 (pre-professional degree + 46 graduate credits) Option 2 (non-pre-professional degree + 104 credits) Previous year of accreditation: 2007 Current term of accreditation: Six years Submitted to the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) on September 7, 2012 PART ONE (I): INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT+I.1. IDENTITY & SELF ASSESSMENT + I.1.1. History and Mission Architecture Program Benefits the University through Teaching, Scholarship, and Service 2 Leadership University Jo Ann M. Gora, PhD, President Ball State University (BSU) Contact: (765) 285-5555 / [email protected] Terry King, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ball State University (BSU) Contact: (765) 285-1333 / [email protected] College Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco, PhD, Dean College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) Contact: (765) 285-5861 / [email protected] Department Mahesh Daas, LEED AP, DPACSA, Chair ACSA Distinguished Professor Department of Architecture (DoA) Contact: (765) 285-1904 / [email protected] Walter T. Grondzik, PE, Associate Chair Department of Architecture (DoA) Contact: (765) 285-2030 / [email protected] Joshua R. Coggeshall, RA, M.Arch Program Director Department of Architecture (DoA) Contact: (765) 285-2028 / [email protected] Individual submitting the architecture program report: Mahesh Daas Name of individual to whom questions should be Directed: Mahesh Daas Ball State University Architecture Program Report. Submitted to NAAB, September 7, 2012 PART ONE (I): INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT / I.1. IDENTITY & SELF ASSESSMENT / I.1.1. History and Mission 3 Table of Contents PART ONE (I): INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT ...................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Innovations in Building Energy Modeling
    Innovations in Building Energy Modeling Research and Development Opportunities Report for Emerging Technologies November 2020 Innovations in Building Energy Modeling: Research and Development Opportunities Report Disclaimer This work was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or any third party’s use or the results of such use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof or its contractors or subcontractors. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof, its contractors or subcontractors. ii Innovations in Building Energy Modeling: Research and Development Opportunities Report Acknowledgments Prepared by Amir Roth, Ph.D. Special thanks to the following individuals and groups. Robert Zogg and Emily Cross of Guidehouse (then Navigant Consulting) conducted the interviews, organized the stakeholder workshops, and wrote the first DRAFT BEM Roadmap. Janet Reyna of NREL (then an ORISE Fellow at BTO) provided extensive feedback on the initial DRAFT BEM Roadmap and helped create the organization for the subsequent DRAFT BEM Research and Development Opportunities (RDO) document.
    [Show full text]
  • The Three Stages of Open Building Implementation
    Three Stages of Open Building Implementation / March 2016 The Three Stages Of Open Building Implementation During the past few decades, what is formally known as Open Building has progressed through several stages. A substantial literature now exists chronicling these developments in the English, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Finnish languages. Open Building constitutes a set of principles and practices drawn from the recognition that human habitation – and built environment more generally - has always and will continue to sustain itself by gradual but constant change. Taking account of new technical and organizational forces at work in contemporary built fields, Open Building offers a number of tools for practitioners to use in guiding the built environment’s continued transformation. For millennia, built environment has come into existence as a largely local phenomenon, supported by shared patterns, types and ways of building, whose gradual transformation to meet cultural aspirations has been complemented by individuals and organizations taking action and responsibility in their private territories. This balance changed in the upheavals of the early 20th century. With the advent of modernism and functionalism, increasing and comprehensive control came to be exercised by large corporations and central governments over the production of built environment, and the vital role of the individual inhabitant and small-scale user was undermined or thwarted in too many cases; in other cases, the opposite took place, leaving those without control to cope with built environment disruption on their own without institutional support. Ordinary environment resulting from these imbalances were, all too frequently rigid and unsustainable, or else chaotic and difficult to sustain.
    [Show full text]
  • College of Architecture and Planning Spring 2001
    ReB a l l S t a CAPt e U n i v e r s i t y College of Architecture and Planning Spring 2001 INTEGRATING DIGITAL MEDIA Second Year Architectural Studio During the fall 2000 semester, the Department of Architecture implemented a mandatory computer purchase program for all incoming second-year architecture students. Technology and the use of digital media is quickly becoming part of design education culture. The department is searching for ways to incorporate these digital media opportunities in the design process. The images here and on the back coverpage showcase the series of workshops for second-year design students using Form•Z by auto•des•sys, a three- Artist’s Enclave Project dimensional modeling by Zack Benedict application. The lectures, led by assistant professors (also see page 16) Frederick Norman and Jackson Faber, are being augmented by laboratory The instructional initiatives incorporating computer modeling of form in second year studios are a part sessions for more one-on-one of a broader College challenge of integrating digital media with professional education. In a wide instruction. range of subjects and experiences throughout the college faculty are exploring several facets of digital competence. In the first year design communication sequence, students are being introduced to Pagemaker and Photoshop applications as graphic design and illustration tools for research, analysis, and design exploration. Studio faculty in the second through fourth year and writing consultants from the English Department working within the CAP Writing in the Design Curriculum program, have been experimenting with word processing and page layout applications as a means of enhancing the creative interaction of written and graphic media.
    [Show full text]
  • Bauhaus and the Beginning of Mass Housing: How Residential Open Building Reacts to Changes in Society
    BAUHAUS AND THE BEGINNING OF MASS HOUSING: HOW RESIDENTIAL OPEN BUILDING REACTS TO CHANGES IN SOCIETY Daniel Struhařík Brno University of Technology Faculty of Architecture Poříčí 273/5, 639 00 Brno, Czech Republic e-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.24427/aea-2019-vol11-no3-04 Abstract In current realizations and research papers, we increasingly encounter designs of flexible dwelling houses. Topics such as Residential Open Building, Infill Architecture, or Support / Infill are also interesting due to changing demands of a population and a long period from planning permission to the end of a building process. The hitherto neglected aspect is the origin of thinking about an apartment building as a flexible structure. The question is whether we can already find this topic in the work of the leading Bauhaus representatives. Using the direct research method, the study of historical sources and available literature, we realized that this topic can be found in the work of the Bauhaus architects. Especially because this progressive school saw an architect‘s position in a broader context. Its visionary representatives predicted the rapid development of society and they responded to this by developing a new typology of apartment buildings that allowed a change. The theme of residential open building can be found in the early 20th century especially in the European context. The work of the Bauhaus representatives was ahead of their time and began to consider the apartment building as a variable structure. Keywords: Residential Open Building; Bauhaus; Walter Gropius; Mies van der Rohe; Adolf Rading INTRODUCTION In recent years, architectural studies and real- very long.
    [Show full text]
  • Circular and Flexible Infill Concepts
    sustainability Article Circular and Flexible Infill Concepts: Integration of the Residential User Perspective Bob Geldermans * , Martin Tenpierik and Peter Luscuere Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands; [email protected] (M.T.); [email protected] (P.L.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +31-628-287-283 Received: 27 November 2018; Accepted: 2 January 2019; Published: 7 January 2019 Abstract: Circular building has gained considerable attention in the Netherlands during the past decade. It is rooted in concepts such as circular economy (CE) and Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C®), accentuating the closing and coupling of material loops to establish effective and efficient resource flows. Moreover, those concepts adhere to a systemic, holistic worldview, incorporating multiple flows and values. Although social aspects, such as health, wellbeing, and social inclusiveness, are generally part of circular building principles, specific benefits for end-users are not. This paper explores the synergistic potential of circular and flexible (Circ-Flex) criteria from the perspective of enhanced control and convenience for residents. The hypothesis is that without integrating the user domain, replicability of circular building concepts on a larger residential scale cannot be done in a truly sustainable manner. The paper is structured around two objectives: (1) further identifying the relationship between flexible and circular building; and (2) exploring the impact of circular, flexible building concepts and practices for the users of multi-family housing, specifically regarding interior partitioning. The research follows a mixed-mode methodology comprising of literature review, case study, expert consultations and a quick-scan assessment.
    [Show full text]