Circular Building Showcase: An Opportunity Map and Blueprint

This research provides a proposal for a real-life experimental house. The proposal is based on both a theoretical state of art of the circular economy (CE) in the built environment through a literature study, as well as a practical state of art through an opportunity map. The opportunity map may also be used as a stand-alone database and includes a variety of examples from practice in the following categories (1) realized buildings, (2) materials, (3) R&D projects (both completed and ongoing), and (4) realized pilots. The observations of the opportunity map and literature study ultimately lead to the proposal for a real-life experimental house and provide certain guidelines and areas of interest.

The proposed circular experimental house would address the main barriers hindering the adoption of the CE in the built environment that are identified in this report: (1) lack of awareness, (2) lack of education, (3) lack of knowledge, (4) lack of procedures, and (5) lack of market. It would do so in an interactive way with active involvement of the built environment supply chain.