Who can use it?

The architect

When an architect receives an assignment requesting circularity, the tool can be used to demonstrate the circularity of the project and, more specifically, the design choices. Using the circular design guidelines, it can be illustrated to what extent a design is change-oriented or to which degree building components are designed for reuse and recycling. Furthermore, the tool provides guidance on how to integrate recycled materials into a project and how to approach this. Guidelines on the choice of materials and low environmental impact can also be useful for an architect. Finally, with the theme "Getting ahead in the transition", the tool offers possible strategies for being a frontrunner in information management and/or deploying innovative business models or processes.

The client

By making circular ambitions concrete and capturing them in a visual way, the "Circular Built" tool allows communication on circularity between different project partners. Initially, the client or building owner, who has to incorporate these ambitions into a program, a competition, a suitable form of contract, specifications... is the most appropriate party to start working with the tool. By going through the different steps, one can arrive at a clear and concrete query and assignment.

Since the integration of circularity can only succeed if construction partners are involved in the project at an early stage, other parties such as the architect, contractor, study agencies or experts can also be involved in using the tool.

The contractor

As circularity is included in increasingly more projects, the contractor will also be confronted with additional circularity requirements at some point. When circular ambitions in a project are made concrete using this tool, it makes it easier for the contractor to assess and correctly budget for the additional requirements in the construction process.

As part of circular construction, an "open" query approach is chosen more frequently, where cooperation at an early stage is encouraged. It is then up to the contractor to come up with solutions and demonstrate their circularity. Using the tool, the contractor, together with the other project partners, can illustrate circularity and thus distinguish itself from its competitors. Moreover, the tool also provides concrete guidance on how to realise certain circular ambitions. For instance, it can illustrate to what extent the chosen building systems and connection methods enable reuse and recycling in the future. Or which concrete measures are needed to maximise reuse in an existing situation. In addition, the tool illustrates what the contractor can do about waste management during the construction phase, the maintenance of the building afterwards, documentation management or innovative business models.

Construction team or consortium

Finally, the tool allows different building partners to jointly translate a client's circular ambitions into concrete measures and requirements. In this way, circularity is communicated in an unambiguous and transparent way and all parties are on the same page from the start.