Overview

Façades are the most visible part of a building, yet they do not receive the attention they deserve in education – and they should! Façades play an important role in creating a healthy indoor environment, contribute to sustainable building practices, and are key in reducing operational costs due to their potential longevity. Above all, they can give a building the beautiful look that sets it apart from any other in the surroundings. International experts from TU Delft, TU Darmstadt and Eurac Research have teamed up to create a series of courses on façades engineering to close this knowledge gap.

In recent years, the growing focus on circularity has introduced a transformative approach in façade design. The reuse of materials, reduction of waste, and the creation of adaptable, sustainable building envelopes are all circular strategies that can be applied in façade engineering.

This course is designed for architects, designers, engineers, and building professionals eager to delve into the principles of the circular economy as applied to façade design. It aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to innovate in façade construction, making buildings more sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and future-proof.

The course is structured to cover the theoretical foundations, practical design strategies, and the assessment methods for circular façade design, culminating in an exploration of the future potential in this exciting field. The course will also review successful implementations of circular design strategies in real-life façade projects to demonstrate the key principles taught and to provide you with practical insights.

Syllabus

Module 1: State of the Art

You will be introduced to the concept of circularity in architecture with a focus on façade design. You will understand the principles of the circular economy and gain insights into state-of-the-art façade design processes. Activities will include case studies and discussions to build comprehension of these principles.

Module 2: Challenges in Closing Loops and Designing the Future

You will identify the barriers to achieving circularity in façade design, including technical, logistical, financial, and legal aspects. Through group discussions and stakeholder analysis, you will be able to recognize the significant challenges faced by different stakeholders in transitioning towards fully circular façade solutions.

Module 3: Design Strategies for a circular built environment

You will explore design strategies that promote circularity, such as modular design, material reuse, and life cycle thinking. You will observe these circular design principles in the evaluation of existing circular façade projects.

Module 4: Implementation of design strategies in real life projects

You will gain practical insights by examining successful implementations of circular design strategies in real-life façade projects. You will examine the challenges faced during these implementations and participate in project-based learning activities to apply these strategies to your own designs.

Module 5: Circularity assessment methods

You will gain information about methods and tools for assessing the circularity of façade designs, including lifecycle assessment and material flow analysis. Through practical exercises and tool demonstrations, you will learn how to evaluate and improve the circularity of design projects.

Module 6: Future Potential in Circular Façade Design

You will discover and discuss emerging technologies, processes, and design philosophies that could shape the future of circular façade design. You will engage in creative thinking and future-oriented design approaches, pushing the boundaries of what is currently possible in circular façade design. Learners will demonstrate with their new design of sustainable building envelopes that it is possible to close the loop in the building industry.