Re-Design: Materiality and Circularity

larct2076  2026-2027  Tournai

Re-Design: Materiality and Circularity
3.00 credits
30.0 h
Q1
> Schedule

This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2026-2027
Teacher(s)
Gobbo Emilie;
Language
French
Main themes
This course addresses the environmental impact of design choices and renovation interventions on existing buildings, emphasizing a resource-saving approach. It explores and discusses key concepts such as life cycle analysis, reuse, reversibility, circularity, relocation, and the valorization of waste as a resource, examining their influence on the architectural design process.
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • Understand the environmental challenges specific to the construction sector, particularly regarding resource availability and waste recovery,
  • Apply life-cycle principles and concepts at various building scales to promote circular design,
  • Explore and utilize environmental assessment tools (e.g., TOTEM),
  • Analyze and compare different intervention scenarios for a case study using the tools introduced in the course,
  • Develop and articulate a clear, concise argument based on comparative analysis findings.

General Learning Outcomes

In line with the program’s learning outcomes (LOs), this course contributes to the development and acquisition of the following LOs:
  • LO1.1 Prioritize the parameters and issues of a given situation.
  • LO1.6 Integrate Sustainable Development requirements into the design process, at multiple scales.
  • LO2.6 Proficiently depict environmental, social, and economic phenomena.
  • LO3.4 Understand and assess the environmental, social, and economic consequences of construction and technical choices.
  • LO4.4 Understand and assess the environmental, social, and economic consequences of architectural choices.
  • LO5.1 Act in full awareneness of one’s responsibilities.
  • LO5.4 Advocate for and act in favor of exemplary architecture in light of Sustainable Development requirements.
  • LO6.3 Present the results of research within and about architecture while adhering to the conventions of scientific communication.
  • LO6.4 Incorporate the requirements of sustainable development into the research process: question, body of work, and scientific monitoring.
 
Content
Following an introduction to life-cycle issues in the construction sector and the transition towards a more circular economy, the course addresses the issue of reuse in architecture and construction, presented as a priority circular strategy after the preservation of existing buildings.
Students will be guided to understand the principles of reusing materials and building components, as well as the conditions necessary for its implementation. The course will cover, in particular: Examples, case studies, site visits and feedback from industry professionals will illustrate and complement the theoretical content.
  • the fundamentals and definitions of reuse;
  • assessments and inventories required before any reuse initiative;
  • the challenges and practices of deconstruction;
  • the various stages of the reuse value chain and the stakeholders involved;
  • technical, economic, regulatory and logistical challenges;
  • the implications of reuse for architectural and structural design;
  • the environmental (and social) impacts associated with these practices.
Teaching methods
The course combines theoretical lectures, case studies, presentations by professionals, site visits, and supervised group work. Students gradually develop a collaborative science communication project focusing on the reuse of materials in the construction sector.
Evaluation methods
The assessment is based primarily on the production, as a group, of a podcast focusing on reuse in the construction sector. This project aims to complement an existing series of podcasts by shifting the focus from the material itself to the various links in the reuse value chain.
The podcast will draw on bibliographical references, interviews with professionals, and/or field visits. The content must be well-structured, rigorous, accessible to a non-specialist audience, and properly sourced.
The assessment will take into account:
  • the quality of the content and the use of sources;
  • the relevance of the critical analysis;
  • the quality of the oral presentation and the clarity of the explanation;
  • compliance with the various deadlines and interim submissions.
To enable the assessment of individual contribution, each group must submit, at the start of the term, a breakdown of responsibilities amongst its members. In the event of a clear imbalance in contributions, individual marks may be adjusted.
As interim submissions are essential stages of the project, regular attendance at course sessions and activities is required.
Other information
Note: Any significant use of a generative artificial intelligence tool must be disclosed. Students remain responsible for the content they submit and must be able to account for their approach and choices. Any breach of the principles of academic integrity may be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of UCLouvain’s RGEE.
Online resources
All information is shared on MOODLE:
  • Course plan and structure
  • Course materials posted online after each class
  • Useful resources
Bibliography
Addis, B. (2006). Building with Reclaimed Components and Materials: A Design Handbook for Reuse and Recycling.
Brand, Stewart. (1994). How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built.Viking.
Dautremont, C., & Gobbo, E. (2025). Mapping of Circular Construction Ecosystems’ Characteristics: Interconnections, Relationships, and Synchronization of Stakeholders at the Micro, Meso, and Macro Scales. Sustainability, 17(2), 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020541
Galle, Waldo & Temmerman, Niels & Cambier, Charlotte & Elsen, Stijn & Herthogs, Pieter & Lanckriet, Wesley & Poppe,Jeroen & Tavernier, Ineke & Vandervaeren, Camille.(2019). Building a Circular Economy. Buildings, a Dynamic Environment
Gobbo, É., Maghsoudi Nia, E., Straub, A., & Stephan, A. (2024). Exploring the effective reuse rate of materials and elements in the construction sector. Journal of Building Engineering, 98, Article 111344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.111344
Gorgolewski, M. (2018). Resource Salvation: The Architecture of Reuse.
Ghyoot, M., Warnier, A., Billiet, L., & Devlieger, L. (2018).Déconstruction et réemploi : comment faire circuler les éléments de construction. Lausanne : Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes.
Huuhka, Satu & Vestergaard, Inge. (2019). Building conservation and the circular economy: a theoretical consideration. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development.
Nordby, Anne Sigrid & Berge, Bjørn & Hakonsen, Finn & Hestnes, Anne. (2009). Criteria for salvageability: The reuse of bricks. Building Research & Information. 37. 55-67.
Faculty or entity
> LOCI


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Architecture (Tournai)
ARCT2M
3
Master [120] in Architecture (Bruxelles)
ARCB2M
3