Project Abstract
Researcher: Paola Sassi, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Supervisor:
Dr John Chilton, School of Architecture, Lincoln University
The concept of recyclable buildings, buildings that are technically capable
of being dismantled and recycled, is receiving increasing attention from
the academic world, but the conversion of the theory into practice is
still remote.
The ability to dismantle and recycle buildings has been identified as
providing significant environmental benefits, however the social and economic
benefits that can result from the use of recyclable technologies (e.g.
lifetime homes, ease of maintenance) remain largely unexplored. Highlighting
the benefits and the potential applications of recyclable building technology
as well as understanding the barriers to its uptake are key to the transfer
of this technology into practice.
This research project investigates how recyclable buildings and the associated
design and construction technology can contribute to providing environmental,
social and economic benefits within the framework of current user requirements
and what barriers impede the uptake of this technology by mainstream architectural
design and construction.
The research will investigate existing examples of buildings that use
recyclable building technology, analyse the motivation for the adoption
of these technologies and assess their implementation. The benefits of
using recyclable technologies will be identified, as well as new opportunities
for their application and the barriers to their uptake. Interviews and
discussions with designers, clients and users will contribute to the development
of recommendations for overcoming the barriers to the adoption of recyclable
building technologies within mainstream architecture.
Research project content
- List of reusable and recyclable building products
- List of case study buildings making use of recyclable building technologies
- Questionnaire, interviews and results
- Motivation for using recyclable building technologies and benefits of their use
- Barriers to the use of recyclable building technologies and approaches to overcoming these
- Opportunities for using recyclable building technologies
