Circular architecture

The Tobiasschool in Zeist transforms a century-old monumental school building into a contemporary and future-ready learning environment. Rather than replacing the existing structure, the renovation builds upon its architectural qualities, preserving its character while introducing the space, comfort and technical performance required for modern education. The building has housed the Tobiasschool since 1982 and accommodates both special primary education and secondary vocational education for pupils who require additional support. Its small-scale character and combination of primary and secondary education are fundamental to the school's identity. Over time, however, the existing spaces had become too limited for changing educational method... More

Kindercampus Zuidas forms the educational heart of Ravel, a new mixed-use neighbourhood taking shape in Amsterdam Zuidas. Positioned on a traffic-calmed square along the Boelegracht and surrounded by a green, car-free public realm, the school is conceived as more than a standalone educational building. Architecture, landscape and learning environments are brought together to create a place that encourages children to explore, meet and learn both inside and outside the classroom. The campus accommodates a primary school for 520 pupils, comprising 2,830 m² of educational space, alongside a 552 m² gymnasium and 410 m² of after-school childcare. Its spatial organisation is based on development-oriented learning (OGO), an educati... More

 Fast growth, office-first Almedia's ambitious People & Culture team approached STUDIO VALE to create a workplace for its fast-growing, office-first team. The strategy was built around staying ahead of the curve, using the office as a place for communication, flexibility and collaboration to support the company's rapid growth. Caption Circular procurement: 55 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided Through STUDIO VALE's network, the project made the most of Berlin's shrinking tech bubble and the wave of company downsizing, sourcing pre-owned furniture from businesses reducing their footprint or leaving the city. As a bootstrapped, non-investor-driven company, Almedia naturally embraced a conscious and responsible use of resources.... More

Architecture is generally designed for one specific site. The Multipurpose Hall in Dudelange challenges that convention. Conceived by FAT Architects for the City of Dudelange, the building was designed from the outset to occupy two different locations during its lifetime. Lukas Roth The hall currently stands along the Route de Bettembourg, replacing an earlier structure. After approximately eight to ten years, it will be carefully dismantled and reconstructed within the future Nei Schmelz eco-district, on the grounds of a former rolling mill. Rather than treating relocation as a constraint, the architects made it the central principle of the design. The 740 m² project was awarded the Luxembourg Architecture Award 2026 in the cate... More

A special animal collection deserves a building with an equally thoughtful material identity. For LimburgHUIS at GaiaZOO, the starting point was clear: the use of natural materials and a design approach with minimal environmental impact. Caption Located within the green surroundings of the zoo, the building combines local character with a strong architectural expression. The base is constructed from Kunraderstone, a natural stone from the province of Limburg. Above this grounded foundation, Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was used to create a dark, tactile and distinctive upper volume. Caption For the main façade, Naoshima by Zwarthout | Shou Sugi Ban was selected. The charred wood gives the building a powerful black appearance... More

Located in Tucson, Arizona, o c o t i l l o is a pavilion by Roundhouse Platform workshopped with students at the University of Arizona that reimagines the everyday features of the bench, stair, and fence as an integrated—and interactive—architectural experience. The project draws inspiration from the ocotillo, a cane-like, spiky shrub endemic to the Sonoran Desert, in its restricted material palette of linear members, and from the etymology of the Nahuatl word ocotl, meaning torch or candle, in its responsive nocturnal illumination. Measuring just eight feet in each direction, the project acts as an observation chamber, engaging the rhythms of an expansive landscape through spatial modulation, material experimentation, and digi... More

Lidl Zero Almere is entirely made of sustainable and circular materials. So is the entire facade of this supermarket! It’s is made of our charred product Marugame. The vertical Marugame boards give the building a silvery glow when the sun shines and at the same time the façade gets a characteristic look because of the texture of the charred layer.  Anahí Clemens Sustainability is so important to us, so it is fantastic to be part of the first energy and CO2 neutral supermarket ”Lidl Zero Almere”! Anahí Clemens Anahí Clemens More

This speculative research project proposes a new architectural model built around adaptability, disassembly, and long-term material reuse. Rather than treating buildings as fixed and disposable objects, the project asks how architecture might be designed to evolve over time—able to be taken apart, repaired, and reconfigured as needs change. At the center of the proposal is a single-material building envelope made from large-scale 3D-printed sand blocks. The façade is conceived as an independent outer layer, separate from the structure and interior spaces inside. By avoiding complex, multi-layered façade systems, the project imagines a more circular approach to construction, where materials can be easily reused and repla... More

The office as a brand embassy​For Octopus Energy's Berlin office, STUDIO VALE delivered a full-scope workplace fit-out, from the initial concept through to detailed coordination. The goal was to create an office that not only supports daily work but also acts as a platform for the brand's mission and innovation in the energy sector. Sebastian Dörken Sebastian Dörken Product Experience TourA key element of the project is the product experience tour: a curated, trade-fair-like exhibition inside the office. Designed to showcase Octopus Energy's products, partnerships and innovations, it features interactive screens and storytelling displays. Although the space is not open to the public, it regularly welcomes policymakers,... More

Hal2, an interior design studio based in Eindhoven, has created a circular work environment for the Dutch office of global digital agency Valtech. The new Valtech office is located in Houtwerk 2, a mass timber building that is part of Campus Werkspoor in Utrecht’s Werkspoorkwartier district. Developed in a former industrial area, Campus Werkspoor is a creative business campus that offers sustainable workspaces, events, and community facilities. Hal2 Hal2   Sustainable design and circular construction Houtwerk 2 was designed by Dutch architectural studios buro werda and M. Architects. This highly sustainable timber structure was developed according to the principles of circular construction. Hal2’s interior and... More

Children’s Center Middenwaard in Amstelveen was designed with the underlying idea that the building is part of the surrounding greenery; The building and the outdoor areas fit together well, together they form one whole. The new children’s center, which houses a school, daycare and gymnasium, has been kept as compact as possible, leaving more space for the outdoors. The design is elongated, with a narrower section in the middle, which leaves space outside for the line of sight from east to west; this allows the surrounding greenery to continue well. On the east side, the building shifts slightly to the north and on the west side to the south. This creates a playful shape that fits in perfectly with the surroundings and provide... More

At the Limburg DC Bouwcampus 2.0 in Diepenbeek, a modular parking building designed by Jaspers-Eyers Architects in collaboration with Democo applies circular construction principles to a functional typology. The structure integrates modularity, disassembly, and traceability to support long-term adaptability. Scalable and adaptable designThe structure is based on a modular system, allowing for expansion up to 500 parking spaces. Its design enables future repurposing or relocation, aligning with flexibility goals from the outset. POM Limburg Detachable timber façadeThe facade is composed of ThermoWood® pine slats from LDCwood, installed as detachable elements intended for reuse. The material is thermally modified for improve... More

The NICE Tower, an impressive 140-meter-tall structure made entirely of wood, represents the next step in the revolution of circular timber high-rise construction. The tower derives its stability from wooden bracing in the façade and a wooden elevator core, is fully bio-based, and is entirely free of concrete from the ground floor to the lift core and supporting structure. This drastically reduces CO₂ emissions compared to traditional concrete buildings and helps combat global warming. The building offers a sustainable and inclusive residential program in response to the increasing pressure on urban space. Its stepped design, featuring communal rooftop terraces, fosters social interaction, while the nature-inclusive design contribut... More

In the centre of Zurich, Switzerland, a prefabricated three-storey wooden building is providing a temporary sports facility for the University of Zurich (UZH). Designed by Swiss architectural practice Itten+Brechbühl AG (IB), the Sporthallenprovisorium Gloriarank (temporary sports hall Gloriarank) has a scheduled lifespan of ten years. The utilitarian building exudes warmth, its elegant appearance blending seamlessly into the urban fabric. Completed in 2022 and located in the Gloriarank area of UZH, the building will serve as an interim solution during the development of Forum UZH, a new education and research centre. To complete the Forum project, it was necessary to remove UZH’s existing sports halls. A significant part o... More