Research in Urbanism and Architecture II 2019-2020
Material use in heritage
buildings for a resilient
future
Abstract
Nowadays, materiality of buildings has become a significant factor within the larger context of
sustainability and heritage buildings. Materials are responsible for large shares of CO2 emissions,
resource depletion, waste production. To reduce these negative effects and preserve heritage
constructions it is crucial to understand the importance of used materials in the existing heritage,
industrial buildings.Through an extensive analysis of collected data about circular materials, their use
and illustration on how heritage and circularity concepts were translated in our specific cases. This
paper investigates two heritage, industrial buildings De Hallen in Amsterdam and LocHal library in
Tilburg. This article will show the aims of architects, specialists and governments that are able to be
achieved when it concerns circular design strategies and re-use of materials in these two specific
cases. Firstly, analysis of relevant definitions, strategies and content analysis give an insight to the
implementation of material circularity in heritage buildings. Additionally, It helps to define relations
of adaptive reuse with circular design and theoretical understanding. Respectively, for both of
these case studies prepared drawing and photo analysis improve understanding of the criteria for
circularity during the renovation process of the buildings.
Written by:
Lucinda Ahrens, Mina Fatemidokhtcharook, Aleksandra Klawikowska, Ava Mustafa, Kyra Nijstad
Tutors:
T. W. A. Schroeder, O. Druta, Y. Peng, G. Liu
Keywords:
Industrial heritage, material reuse, circular design strategies, design for circularity
, Torsten - Group 3
1. Introduction
Circularity has led designers and researchers in different Reusing heritage buildings, apart from preserving cultural
disciplines including architecture and urbanism to come up values, can help towards a more sustainable living environment,
with new and innovative ways to approach the broader term in saving the used materials to an extent and engaging in
of sustainability. Circular economy, i.e., reusing waste and a circular economy. According to the transition agenda
resources by changing current production and consumption ‘A Circular Economy in the Netherlands in 2050’, the
patterns (Leising et al., 2017), first introduced by Boulding construction industry has a considerable share in raw material,
(1969), provides a way for maintaining wealth and reducing the energy, and water consumption. Moreover, this industry is
environmental effects of waste. The role of the construction responsible for a significant proportion of producing waste
industry regarding circularity, therefore, seems undeniable. and CO2 emissions. By using circular strategies, however, the
The reuse of existing buildings, as one of the ways to achieve environmental consequences can be reduced (Ministerie
a circular building economy, is a key element. Whereas the van Algemene Zaken, 2017). Further, Foster (2020), argues
adaptive reuse of historical buildings adds more challenge for that the circular renovation of heritage buildings revitalizes
designers, it must increasingly apply circular design strategies to neighborhoods and contributes to social development in
reach economical sustainability during and after renovation. addition to economic and environmental matters, considering
Preservation of industrial heritage, as reminiscent of the all of the three pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, GBC
past, gives insight into the people’s lives in a specific era and (Green Building Council) Historic Building, formed specifically
may contain technological or scientific value in the history to evaluate the sustainability level of interventions in historic
of the industry. Furthermore, the building or historic site buildings subject to restoration, rehabilitation, or adaptation,
can be valuable concerning the architecture or may act as considers material use as an indicating factor in determining
an identity to a community or a signature for a place (James the sustainability of construction projects (Bertagni, Boarin, &
Douet, 2013). Therefore, attending to industrial heritage is Zuppiroli, 2020).
of importance. These are among the reasons that the Dutch
legislation also applied several laws regarding the maintenance- A body of research investigates material use regarding adaptive
and preservation of cultural heritage, having national, provincial, reuse of the heritage buildings. Choosing to reuse a building
or municipal monumental status (Ministerie van Onderwijs, reduces the amount of waste produced in the process of
Cultuur en Wetenschap, 2019). demolishing and constructing (Styer, 2015). Further literature
supports that material efficiency in buildings is influential in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the exploitation of
recycled materials can have an impact on the energy use
of the building (Hertwich et al., 2019; Amponsah, N.Y. et al.,
3
,Research in Urbanism and Architecture II 2019-2020
2012). Furthermore, the circular strategy has an impact on
water efficiency and consumption in renovating buildings
(Foster & Kreinin, 2020). Therefore, it seems reasonable for
architects to consider circular strategies through the adaptive
reuse of heritage buildings.
Defining the term circularity in 1969 was followed by many
theoretical discussions in using circular strategies and the
use of materials in the construction industry. The appliance
of these strategies, however, does not occur very frequently.
Therefore, the body research about the cases that have
considered circularity in the process of design, is still narrow
respectively and there is room for gaining more knowledge
about the implementation of material circularity in heritage
buildings. Industrial heritage, as an important part of the urban
landscape, by losing its function over time, creates a setting
for adaptation to other functions and redevelopment, mostly
transforming into public buildings according to their scale.
However, there is a gap in reviewing case studies of such
buildings from a circularity perspective to provide a better
understanding of the subject within practical boundaries.
This paper investigates the lead question of: ‘How are
circular strategies and reuse of materials implemented in
the renovation of heritage buildings?’ The research will be
carried out using qualitative and quantitative methods with
a focus on the values of circular material use in renovating
industrial heritage buildings. To obtain specific knowledge, two
case studies, the LocHal library in Tilburg and De Hallen in
Amsterdam, have been chosen. For both of these case studies,
the criteria for circularity during the renovation process is
studied using literature review, content analysis, photo study,
and drawing analysis.
4
, Torsten - Group 3
5
Material use in heritage
buildings for a resilient
future
Abstract
Nowadays, materiality of buildings has become a significant factor within the larger context of
sustainability and heritage buildings. Materials are responsible for large shares of CO2 emissions,
resource depletion, waste production. To reduce these negative effects and preserve heritage
constructions it is crucial to understand the importance of used materials in the existing heritage,
industrial buildings.Through an extensive analysis of collected data about circular materials, their use
and illustration on how heritage and circularity concepts were translated in our specific cases. This
paper investigates two heritage, industrial buildings De Hallen in Amsterdam and LocHal library in
Tilburg. This article will show the aims of architects, specialists and governments that are able to be
achieved when it concerns circular design strategies and re-use of materials in these two specific
cases. Firstly, analysis of relevant definitions, strategies and content analysis give an insight to the
implementation of material circularity in heritage buildings. Additionally, It helps to define relations
of adaptive reuse with circular design and theoretical understanding. Respectively, for both of
these case studies prepared drawing and photo analysis improve understanding of the criteria for
circularity during the renovation process of the buildings.
Written by:
Lucinda Ahrens, Mina Fatemidokhtcharook, Aleksandra Klawikowska, Ava Mustafa, Kyra Nijstad
Tutors:
T. W. A. Schroeder, O. Druta, Y. Peng, G. Liu
Keywords:
Industrial heritage, material reuse, circular design strategies, design for circularity
, Torsten - Group 3
1. Introduction
Circularity has led designers and researchers in different Reusing heritage buildings, apart from preserving cultural
disciplines including architecture and urbanism to come up values, can help towards a more sustainable living environment,
with new and innovative ways to approach the broader term in saving the used materials to an extent and engaging in
of sustainability. Circular economy, i.e., reusing waste and a circular economy. According to the transition agenda
resources by changing current production and consumption ‘A Circular Economy in the Netherlands in 2050’, the
patterns (Leising et al., 2017), first introduced by Boulding construction industry has a considerable share in raw material,
(1969), provides a way for maintaining wealth and reducing the energy, and water consumption. Moreover, this industry is
environmental effects of waste. The role of the construction responsible for a significant proportion of producing waste
industry regarding circularity, therefore, seems undeniable. and CO2 emissions. By using circular strategies, however, the
The reuse of existing buildings, as one of the ways to achieve environmental consequences can be reduced (Ministerie
a circular building economy, is a key element. Whereas the van Algemene Zaken, 2017). Further, Foster (2020), argues
adaptive reuse of historical buildings adds more challenge for that the circular renovation of heritage buildings revitalizes
designers, it must increasingly apply circular design strategies to neighborhoods and contributes to social development in
reach economical sustainability during and after renovation. addition to economic and environmental matters, considering
Preservation of industrial heritage, as reminiscent of the all of the three pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, GBC
past, gives insight into the people’s lives in a specific era and (Green Building Council) Historic Building, formed specifically
may contain technological or scientific value in the history to evaluate the sustainability level of interventions in historic
of the industry. Furthermore, the building or historic site buildings subject to restoration, rehabilitation, or adaptation,
can be valuable concerning the architecture or may act as considers material use as an indicating factor in determining
an identity to a community or a signature for a place (James the sustainability of construction projects (Bertagni, Boarin, &
Douet, 2013). Therefore, attending to industrial heritage is Zuppiroli, 2020).
of importance. These are among the reasons that the Dutch
legislation also applied several laws regarding the maintenance- A body of research investigates material use regarding adaptive
and preservation of cultural heritage, having national, provincial, reuse of the heritage buildings. Choosing to reuse a building
or municipal monumental status (Ministerie van Onderwijs, reduces the amount of waste produced in the process of
Cultuur en Wetenschap, 2019). demolishing and constructing (Styer, 2015). Further literature
supports that material efficiency in buildings is influential in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the exploitation of
recycled materials can have an impact on the energy use
of the building (Hertwich et al., 2019; Amponsah, N.Y. et al.,
3
,Research in Urbanism and Architecture II 2019-2020
2012). Furthermore, the circular strategy has an impact on
water efficiency and consumption in renovating buildings
(Foster & Kreinin, 2020). Therefore, it seems reasonable for
architects to consider circular strategies through the adaptive
reuse of heritage buildings.
Defining the term circularity in 1969 was followed by many
theoretical discussions in using circular strategies and the
use of materials in the construction industry. The appliance
of these strategies, however, does not occur very frequently.
Therefore, the body research about the cases that have
considered circularity in the process of design, is still narrow
respectively and there is room for gaining more knowledge
about the implementation of material circularity in heritage
buildings. Industrial heritage, as an important part of the urban
landscape, by losing its function over time, creates a setting
for adaptation to other functions and redevelopment, mostly
transforming into public buildings according to their scale.
However, there is a gap in reviewing case studies of such
buildings from a circularity perspective to provide a better
understanding of the subject within practical boundaries.
This paper investigates the lead question of: ‘How are
circular strategies and reuse of materials implemented in
the renovation of heritage buildings?’ The research will be
carried out using qualitative and quantitative methods with
a focus on the values of circular material use in renovating
industrial heritage buildings. To obtain specific knowledge, two
case studies, the LocHal library in Tilburg and De Hallen in
Amsterdam, have been chosen. For both of these case studies,
the criteria for circularity during the renovation process is
studied using literature review, content analysis, photo study,
and drawing analysis.
4
, Torsten - Group 3
5
