How does architecture change when you start with the materials that are already available? That question is central to the research project “Recycling on Site,” which compiles experiences with direct reuse in construction.

The project investigates how architects’ design processes are affected when they work with existing materials rather than new ones. Recycled materials are often unique and do not fit into traditional processes, and at the same time, uncertainty regarding contamination such as asbestos and PCBs can create barriers to their use. 

To address these challenges, the project utilizes environmental screening data and visualized data from non-destructive testing. The goal is to provide architects with a better basis for assessing how materials can be reused - even before they are dismantled. 

The publication compiles the project’s methods and results and highlights how more direct reuse can help reduce the environmental impact of construction. At the same time, it emphasizes the need for new design processes in which available materials play a central role from the outset. 

The project was led by Lotte M. Bjerregaard Jensen at Aarhus School of Architecture with support from Realdania, and is part of a broader effort to promote circular workflows in the construction industry.

CEBRA has contributed to the research publication together with DTU—Technical University of Denmark, the Knowledge Center for Circular Economy in Construction, EFFEKT, Anna Mette Exner Arkitektur, Arkitema, JJW ARKITEKTER, SLETH, Søren Jensen, Kingo, P. Olesen A/S, JDH-BYG, GreenDozer, and Milva. 

The book is available in both digital and print formats.

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