Unraveling the architectural design process: A comprehensive study of challenges in designing with reused components

With increasing environmental problems such as resource scarcity, high CO₂emissions, growing construction waste and biodiversity loss, the design strategy with reusedcomponents offers a much-needed sustainable solution. However, a radical shift in the con-struction industry is necessary toward designing with reused components, requiringa reorientation of practices, priorities, and approaches. Integrating reused components chal-lenges conventional architectural design processes, requiring flexible, adaptive workflows.This study explores the challenges architects face when working with reused components andreveals which of these are considered most critical. Through a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and comparative analysis, the research identifies nine multifaceted chal-lenges and links theoretical insights to practical experiences. Additionally, the timing of mater-ial acquisition proves to be crucial for adapting workflows and ensuring project efficiency.These findings indicate that future research should focus on developing timing-specific processmaps to better manage these challenges.