Developing a 'Design with Reuse' guide: Case study analysis from a design procedural perspective for the integration of reclaimed wood in façade architecture

Today's excessing construction industry leads to exhaustion of raw materials and large-scale waste production, resulting in environmental and societal problems. In response, there is a growing interest among academic researchers, designers, and policymakers to accelerate the shift toward a circular construction sector. To achieve this transition towards an economy with closed material loops, solutions for resources need to be developed and adopted. Material reuse is such a solution. Yet today reuse is still an uncommon practice.

This study aims to increase the viability of reuse possibilities of reclaimed materials in façade architecture and to attain insights into the design processes that enable and support reuse. Reuse projects are emerging, yet limited literature exists on design processes to reuse building materials. Through collaboration with designers of reuse projects, their design approach can be grasped and inspire others. In this paper, the focus is laid on two exemplary building projects, in Belgium and France, where reclaimed wood is used for the façade architecture. Interviews with designers allowed to map and analyse their design processes, revealing similar crucial steps for reuse in each design phase. As a result, a prototype of a 'design with reuse' guide is developed. Such a design instrument offers guidance for building designers to consider and include reclaimed materials, and hence, more circular design solutions, in their projects.