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

Managing the outdated building stock through more efficient circular processes such as reuse appears to be a sustainable strategy to undertake in limiting the environmental impacts of the building sector. Nevertheless, neither the ties between sustainability and circularity are clear, nor the convenience of architectural reuse processes in environmental and economic terms. The study developed a decision-making tool, a fast self-assessment procedure supporting designers in understanding the convenience in using reclaimed building elements from the project concept. Using desk study and case study methods, and adopting a comprehensive sustainability perspective, the investigation focused on the parameters to use and on the characteristics of the evaluation. Five parameters were identified for the environmental, economic and social assessment. Two scenarios were then compared, the workflows and the boundaries for the evaluation defined, and the direct and indirect impacts on the overall processes evaluated. The results of the case study allowed validating the procedure developed, in both its ease of performing and 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.