Guidelines for disassembly and adaptation in architectural design compared to circular economy goals-A literature review

The application of Circular Economy (CE) in architectural practice is limited, despite the urgent need to reduce environmental burdens of the construction sector that CE offers. Design for Disassembly and Design for Adaptability (DfD/A) are recognised as key design strategies supporting CE. However, with further development of life-cycle assessment (LCA) or circularity factors (CF) that enable more life-cycle evaluations, the rationale for applying specific DfD/A guidelines needs to be revised. This paper aims to establish which DfD/A guidelines foster environmental benefits expected of the implementation of CE in architectural practice and under which conditions. Also, it is of interest whether quantification of environmental impact is consistent in guiding designers in CE compliant material choices and detailing. This literature review covers papers published before August 2022, with analysis of 2652 titles, 2031 abstracts and 70 full-texts, focusing on material choice, construction strategies, circular options and the related assessment methods (LCA, circularity assessment). The results indicate that only a few DfD/A guidelines unconditionally support CE goals in architectural design. The rationale for the application of most of the DfD/A guidelines requires a case-by-case analysis, both in terms of broader context assumptions and the related environmental impact. Furthermore, a multitude of scoring schemes and focus areas hinders practical comparison of materials and leads to divergent conclusions. Based on the findings, a design process framework is proposed, linking general CE and specific DfD/A guidance. In conclusion, policy and design community recommendations and further research needs are identified. A systematisation of LCA-methods and impact categories associated with specific industrial and business models is needed to avoid contradictory design recommendations.