Circular building - opportunity and challenge

High levels of waste, large quantities of pollutant emissions, increased energy consumption - the impact of the construction sector on climate change cannot be ignored. This makes it all the more important that players in the construction industry in particular face up to the challenges and develop ideas/concepts to counteract the damage. Circular construction, cradle-to-cradle, urban mining, etc. - are seen as potential solutions. But what exactly is behind these terms? How can ideas and concepts be put into practice? Are the circular building approaches actually new or have they always existed and simply been forgotten? What role does “building in and with existing buildings” play?

Using examples from SSP AG's project work, visions for the construction sector are outlined and the significance of “circular construction” is explored.