Circular and Flexible Infill Concepts: Integration of the Residential User Perspective

Abstract

Circular building has gained considerable attention in the Netherlands during the past decade. It is rooted in concepts such as circular economy (CE) and Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C®), accentuating the closing and coupling of material loops to establish effective and efficient resource flows. Moreover, those concepts adhere to a systemic, holistic worldview, incorporating multiple flows and values. Although social aspects, such as health, wellbeing, and social inclusiveness, are generally part of circular building principles, specific benefits for end-users are not. This paper explores the synergistic potential of circular and flexible (Circ-Flex) criteria from the perspective of enhanced control and convenience for residents. The hypothesis is that without integrating the user domain, replicability of circular building concepts on a larger residential scale cannot be done in a truly sustainable manner. The paper is structured around two objectives: (1) further identifying the relationship between flexible and circular building; and (2) exploring the impact of circular, flexible building concepts and practices for the users of multi-family housing, specifically regarding interior partitioning. The research follows a mixed-mode methodology comprising of literature review, case study, expert consultations and a quick-scan assessment. Eleven Circ-Flex criteria are explored, grouped in three categories: flexibility capacity, circularity capacity, and user capacity. These criteria are applied to two partitioning variants, whilst exploring the performance regarding material circulation and user benefits.

Human Health and Well-Being in Relation to Circular and Flexible Infill Design: Assessment Criteria on the Operational Level

“…However, in the design and management of residential buildings, modifications are usually not factored in. This is the case for many typologies and in many countries, not least the multi-family homes that form a large part of the building stock in the Netherlands [3]. One of the reasons is that the shortage of housing after the 2nd world war induced a massive building production against low costs.…”

“…From the viewpoint of building-occupants' health related to material use, there are few assessment schemes on the market that prioritize this domain [3,26]. However, the WELL Building Standard, launched in 2014, has been identified as a meaningful framework in this context, as it focuses explicitly on health & well-being of building occupants.…”

“…Moreover, if social aspects are considered within the applied guidelines, they are usually not addressing specific benefits for end-users. Without integrating this user domain, replicability of circular building concepts on the larger scale is thought to hamper true sustainable development [3].…”

“…This paper addresses research gaps concerning the linkage between resident health and well-being on the one hand and circular and flexible (Circ-Flex) product performance on the other. Circ-Flex can be understood as a systems approach rooted in the synergistic liaison between circular and flexible characteristics, as defined by Geldermans et al [3]. Circular characteristics concern the dynamic total of associated processes, materials and stakeholders that accommodate renewable flows of building materials and products at optimal rates and utilities.…”

Circular and Flexible Indoor Partitioning—A Design Conceptualization of Innovative Materials and Value Chains

“…Also in the Netherlands, traditional housing design and building paradigms prevail, giving priority to generic-uniform-rather than specific-pluriform-design. The current traction in the Netherlands around the concept of circular building provides leverage for change in this respect [3]. Circular building (CB) and flexible building (FB) are essentially two sides of the same coin: Flexibility of the housing unit-specifically relating the infill-can accommodate a bespoke and up-to-date indoor materialization in line with the user requirements.…”