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

Abstract

This paper addresses the connection between circular building design and residential health and well-being. The general research objective is to determine assessment criteria for the performance of indoor partitioning products in a circular model. The overarching aim is to establish a more integrated and inclusive approach to the transition from linear to circular built environments. This ties in with recent calls for a more comprehensive evidence-base to better inform the policy debate, in the light of interrelated Sustainable Development Goals. The paper emphasises the operational level, looking closer at the actual performance of circular economy implementation, providing more grip on performance indicators of infill components in circular applications, specifically partition walls. Next to partitioning one can think of other components in the infill domain, such as kitchens, bathrooms and mechanical, electrical, plumbing installations. After a brief background sketch, a literature review is reported regarding indoor environmental quality and indoor air quality in general and the linkage with circular and flexible building (products) in particular. Next, an analysis is made of three assessment schemes that address the operational level. Subsequently, several criteria are synthesized and tested. It was shown that the assessment schemes have overlapping and complementary features that, in unison, provide a solid basis for an integrated assessment of circularity potential and health impact of infill products. The test-case helped to pinpoint generic, as well as case-specific, learning points. The interface between product performance and building performance over time remains a grey zone, insufficiently covered by current criteria. More stringent coordination efforts are essential to safeguard circularity potential and healthy living environments pre-use, post-use and not least in-use.

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

“…Circ-Flex can be understood as a systems approach rooted in the synergistic liaison between circular and flexible characteristics. Circular characteristics concern the dynamic total of associated processes, materials, and stakeholders that accommodate circular flows of building materials and products at optimal utilities, rates, and spatial scales [3,5]. Flexible characteristics concern the building designs and activities that allow for easy rearrangement of infill components, accommodating the potentially changing needs of occupants [3,5].…”

“…Circular characteristics concern the dynamic total of associated processes, materials, and stakeholders that accommodate circular flows of building materials and products at optimal utilities, rates, and spatial scales [3,5]. Flexible characteristics concern the building designs and activities that allow for easy rearrangement of infill components, accommodating the potentially changing needs of occupants [3,5]. Geldermans et al [5] coupled those characteristics to issues of end-user health and well-being, in response to the gaps that exist in research and practice concerning this linkage.…”

“…Flexible characteristics concern the building designs and activities that allow for easy rearrangement of infill components, accommodating the potentially changing needs of occupants [3,5]. Geldermans et al [5] coupled those characteristics to issues of end-user health and well-being, in response to the gaps that exist in research and practice concerning this linkage. After an exploration of multiple assessment methods and frameworks, the Circ-Flex assessment guidelines were derived from three schemes in particular: Cradle to Cradle™ Certified, WELL™ Certified, and Pre-Returnable Procurement ® .…”

“…This, in turn, opens up to new product supply and service models that serve a circular economy, integrating design, manufacturing, use, operation, and reutilization. In practice, however, integration of the latter three steps-use, operation and reutilization-is usually insufficiently secured due to engrained models [4,5]. This article aims to shed more light on the materialization and operation of partitioning wall components in relation to circular and flexible (Circ-Flex) performance, as introduced by Geldermans et al [5].…”

“…In practice, however, integration of the latter three steps-use, operation and reutilization-is usually insufficiently secured due to engrained models [4,5]. This article aims to shed more light on the materialization and operation of partitioning wall components in relation to circular and flexible (Circ-Flex) performance, as introduced by Geldermans et al [5]. The hypothesis is twofold: (1) A stronger integration of materialization and operation aspects is indispensable in establishing sustainable value-models, and (2) recent innovations concerning the reversibility of material connections will help disrupting the status-quo in this respect.…”