Medium
         Agenda



Circular UrbanismInterventions for Urban Circular Ecosystems 



Advisor: Keller Easterling
Location: New York; Austin; Vancouver
Yale School of Architecture, Thesis


Introduction
Construction and demolition (C&D) debris account for 30% - 40% of global waste,1 with 75% of usable materials currently not being recycled.2 In the US alone, 90% of C&D debris comes from demolition.3 While the making of buildings has often been a focus of architectural design and urban development, the process and consequences of demolition are just as critical. Especially in the context of resource scarcity and climate change, unbuilding is indispensable in the transition from linear material consumption to circular economy. Over years of rapid urban growth around the world, the built environment should be treated as a material bank with great potential to support new urban development. Instead of solely focusing on individual buildings and detailed components, this thesis aims to present design proposals derived from existing construction waste networks and infrastructure, tailored to the contextual differences between cities.
Global C&D Debris Percentage
US C&D Debris Percentage
Starting with urban analysis and leading to design intervention, three cities from North America—New York, Austin, and Vancouver—have been chosen as experimental grounds. In New York City, three temporary installations were designed as educational platforms, strategically located in pocket spaces to maximize exposure to circular materials. In Austin, the material storage facility has been reimagined as market destinations that reflect the city's ebb and flow of construction activities. In Vancouver, a sustainable housing densification model was developed to address the city's housing crisis and account for the material lifecycle. By researching different urban environments and imagining interventions that could optimize current construction waste circulation, this thesis aims to engage in the discussion of fostering sustainable urban growth and circular economy, a vision that requires systematic changes in how we build and unbuild.

1. Rodriguez-Morales et al., “Transforming Construction.”2. Purchase et al., "Circular Economy of Construction and Demolition Waste."3. EPA, “Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials.”
RotorDC, Brussels 
Precedents Catalog
 Methodology

Phase 1: Precedents Study
The research begins by examining city-wide initiatives and circular material practices in architecture, including visits to cities in Belgium and the Netherlands, which are known for successful examples of circular design. The identified precedents are categorized by their role across the construction value chain.


Phase 2: Urban Analysis
Three North American cities—New York, Austin, and Vancouver—were selected for further analysis using a framework derived from previous research. Each city was examined in five key aspects: the state of deconstruction and salvage practices, the network of waste transportation, the number and types of processing facilities, examples of material reuse, and the market environment for salvaged materials.


Phase 3: Intervention Designs
Three proposals have been developed based on the current state of each city, with the intention of facilitating a shift toward circular construction practices.

New York City
Temporary Material Showroom
New York City recycles about 64% of its construction waste, while a significant number of C&D debris is shipped outside the city to processing facilities or landfills. In response to the city’s outward waste network and to raise local awareness of the potential of circular practice, the design proposes three interventions to enhance the city's internal recycling capabilities and advocate for local reuse. These interventions include temporary material showrooms utilizing rental materials sourced from deconstruction sites and salvaged material retailers. Located on underutilized land, these initiatives aim to create new nodes in the waste circulation network, showcasing reuse practices and fostering exchange and education.
Marine Transfer Station© Dattner Architects
Big Reuse NYC
Urban Analysis

Map of C&D Debris Infrastructure
Existing Infrastructure
 Existing Circulation


NYC Existing C&D Debris Circulation
Design Intervention
Temporary Material Showroom
Proposed C&D Debris Circulation
New Material Flow



Temporary Showroom

Temporary Display Shelf
Small Lot Intervention


Urban Section-Circular Interventions


Austin
Material Marketplace & Storage
Austin has established strong citywide circular partnerships, including collaborations with educational institutions like UT Austin, which hosts a long-standing circular design center. The city's policy mandates the reuse or recycling of at least 50% of construction and demolition debris. Additionally, Austin has developed online networks and physical marketplaces for reusing small objects, materials, and furniture. Building on this foundation, the design proposes enhancing Austin's circular network with dedicated physical material storages and marketplaces for building components. Architecturally, the buildings adopt conventional warehouse steel structures but emphasize recycled materials, showcasing the process of reuse dynamically. Key features include stations for recycled windows, salvaged wood with an integrated woodshop, soft building materials displayed on hanging rods, and a brick station where visitors navigate a spiral path to select bricks based on color and type.
Austin Circular Economy Stody Map 
Center for Maximum Potential

Urban Analysis
Map of C&D Debris Infrastructure
Existing Infrastructure


Existing Circulation

Austin Existing C&D Debris Circulation

Design Intervention
Material Marketplace & Storage
Proposed C&D Debris Circulation
New Material Flow


Storage of Renew Fabric & Lumber (1/2)
Storage of Renew Fabric & Lumber (2/2)

Brick Wall (1/2)
Brick Wall (2/2)

Storage of Reclaimed Window (1/2)
Storage of Reclaimed Window (2/2)

Section-Material Marketplace & Storage


Vancouver
Circular Neighborhood Development Model
Vancouver stands out for its proactive reuse of construction materials, driven by abundant wood resources, a mature lumber market, and policies promoting cost parity between demolition and deconstruction. However, the city faces a severe housing shortage due to limited land availability for multifamily development. To address this challenge, we propose a multifamily housing development model based on collaborative ownership through community land trusts. This model densifies existing single-family neighborhoods by integrating the deconstruction of existing structures and constructing taller buildings to accommodate multiple households. By incorporating temporary material storage facilities in developing neighborhoods, the design facilitates material exchange between communities. After development, these storage spaces can transition into shared community amenities, ensuring continuous material circulation and fostering a network of interconnected neighborhoods.
Unbuilders
Salvage Vancouver
Urban Analysis
Map of C&D Debris Infrastructure
Existing Infrastructure
Existing Circulation

Austin Existing C&D Debris Circulation

Design Intervention
Circular Neighborhood Development Model
Proposed C&D Debris Circulation
New Material Flow

Pre-Development
Construction & Deconstruction
Post-Construction


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