Circular building regulations
This mindset permeates the 27 recommendations Kasper Guldager Jensen and his colleagues in the Danish government’s Advisory Board submitted to the government on 7 June 2017. The recommendations include the establishment of circular building regulations, such that new construction projects are required to provide information on the materials used and the possibilities for recycling. The development of a standardised building passport is also recommended, to provide a readily available overview of all the materials used in the building.
“When a building reaches the end of its service life and needs to be demolished, great value will be lost if we do not know about the materials and any problematic substances they contain. We need to be better at creating an overview of what buildings contain, so that they can serve as material stores where we can harvest and reuse building parts,” says Kasper Guldager Jensen.
Fewer silicone joins
The vision of buildings that can be disassembled into major components after use will require a break with silicone, sealant and adhesive. More bolts and fittings will have to be used instead, so that the mechanical joins become more visible. This means architects will have to think in new circular aesthetics when designing tomorrow’s sustainable buildings.
“Architects will have to design buildings that are both sustainable and beautiful. And knowledge of materials and construction will have to be applied across the construction project, so that the architects know how the demolition team and facility manager work. It is not just common sense, but also good economics, because it creates demand for new products and business models,” says Kasper Guldager Jensen.
“It is interesting to see how companies like Troldtekt are already working strategically to manage materials, chemicals and installation,” says Kasper Guldager Jensen.