Assessing the sustainability of architectural reclamation processes: an evaluation procedure for the early design phase

Managing the outdated building stock through the most efficient circular processes, such as reuse, appears to be a sustainable strategy to undertake in limiting the environmental impacts of the building sector. Nevertheless, when moving from a theoretical perspective to practice, neither the ties between sustainability and circularity are clear, nor is the convenience of architectural reuse in environmental and economic terms. To fill this gap, the study developed a novel decision-making tool, a fast self-assessment procedure supporting designers in understanding the convenience in using reclaimed building elements starting from the project concept. Using both desk study and case study methods, and adopting a comprehensive sustainability perspective, the investigation focused on defining the parameters to use and the characteristics of the evaluation framework. Five parameters were identified for conducting the environmental, economic and social assessments of architectural processes involving reclamation practices: energy inputs, GWP, new material input, costs and labour. Two scenarios - the conventional one and the reuse one - were then compared, the workflows and the boundaries for the evaluation defined, and the direct and indirect impacts on the overall processes evaluated in light of the parameters. The results of the case study allowed validating the procedure developed, in its ease of performing, in the results' simple interpretation and in the comprehensive sustainability perspective. Although the research would benefit from further field testing, it provides an alternative tool for evaluating the circular outcomes in the architectural field, and to develop the sustainability of the built environment by assisting designers in evaluating the effectiveness of reuse strategies, especially the use of elements salvaged from outdated building stock.