Circular Design process

Re-use is an exciting material strategy in contemporary desig, but also has roots in ancient architecture. When resources are scarce, re-using materials has always been a practical building practice. Besides helping the environment, re-use also offers symbolic and representational possibilities based on the materials’ life cycle. It’s fascinating to think about what previous purposes the materials served, like the bridge, for example. In ancient Rome, the practice of Spolia, using and re-purposing various ornaments, communicated continuity or change in power structures.

In conventional design, initial ideas come from testing with proxy materials, sketches, references, and imagination. However, in a circular design process, a more scavenger-like approach is required. Collage is used to bring together different building materials into a new whole. In contemporary circular design, this often results in bold contrasts and an aesthetic that celebrates rawness. But in our design, we aimed to show something different. We wanted to demonstrate that re-use can also lead to more refined and elegant architecture.