Seminar Circularity in the built environment (IGP)

 

Seminar

Background

Circular thinking in architecture comprises the planning of buildings taking into account their environmental impact over several cycles of use. Over the last four decades, the focus has been on the operational phase. With decreasing energy requirements and the increased share of renewable energy sources, the building substance has moved into focus as a potential for reducing the environmental impact.

The planning of the construction and its choice of materials offer possibilities for designing this parameter. If building products are used that have already completed a utilisation cycle, raw materials can be conserved. In addition, a detachable construction holds the strategic potential for segregation by type and a positive environmental impact in the future.

The IGP imparts basic knowledge to identify and plan environmental sensible measures and develop recycling strategies for buildings. To this end, the event is thematically structured along the building cycle and highlights the special features of each phase in each event.

Assignment

(A) Product cycles are researched in groups of four students. The results are summarized in a reader.

(B) For a project developed by you (or one to whose documents you have access) you investigate the recyclability and document this using the Input-Potential Output method. For the final delivery you show improvements and demonstrate them by means of planning illustrations for the essential components.

Dates

Field trips to companies in the recycling industry are offered. Dates will be announced.

The lectures will be made available online via video via RWTH. They contain comprehension questions that are to be filled in by each student.

20.4. 14h Introduction

11.5. 14h Consultation possibility

15.6. 14h Presentation of the results

Before 29.6. 14h Final submission without presentation via RWTH online