Lecturer: C. Fivet. The circular economy consists in maintaining the value of products as long as possible by extending or renewing their service life while minimizing resource depletion, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of these principles in the construction industry has many facets that often contradict each other.
Learning objective
While introducing students to the concept of the circular economy and its applications to building design, the class provides ready-to-use techniques and aims at developing a critical mindset towards their use. Following a 'flipped classroom' methodology, the class devles into recent literature and practice by means of adversarial open debates. Examination consists in the writing of a short personal essay on a chosen topic and its oral defence.
Content
Environmental Footprint of Buildings: Situation & Assessment Methods - Circular Economy (& Industrial Ecology): History, Principles, and Expectations - Building Use: Intensity & Versatility - Low-Impact Materials & Material-Efficient Systems - Recycling & In-Situ Improvement - Material Sourcing & Stewardship - Design for Upstream Reuse - Design for Downstream Reuse (incl. Design-dor-Disassembly) - Restorative and Regenerative Design.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits
2 credits
Examiners
Type
ungraded semester performance
Language of examination
English
Repetition
Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Additional information on mode of examination
Registration modalities, date and venue of this performance assessment are specified solely by the EPFL.
Performance assessment as a semester course