Platform CB’23: Guide to Circular Design 2.0. Working agreements for circular construction.

Circular design starts by having an ambition. An ambition to create a more sustainable building or engineering structure and to follow a more sustainable project process. The design phase is the main point in time when circular ambitions are given shape, as the choices made during this phase have a major influence on the result. That is why we have to ensure that the right choices are made. It is also the reason why everyone involved in the design process should work towards the same goals and the same solutions. It will be clear that proper agreements on this significantly reduce any risks of miscommunication and enable a more effective design process.
This ‘Circular Design 2.0’ guide is the successor to the 1.0 version of the guide that was published in July 2021. The responses to and experiences with the first guide have been incorporated into this version. The basic principle has not changed in this 2.0 version. We are establishing agreements to make circular design commonplace. These are agreements suitable for the construction and installation sector at large (buildings and civil and hydraulic engineering/infrastructure), further specified for the individual subsectors where relevant. These agreements focus not only on designers, but also on all other roles that can or should contribute to circular designs and their implementation. Of course, these agreements should leave sufficient freedom for designers and must not hamper innovation.