Salvage and Integrity (Built Environment and Architecture as a Resource)

There are compelling environmental, economic, and social arguments, for private owners and public authorities alike, to prefer reuse over strategies such as recycling. Also, reuse has been the dominant practice for centuries, before the need for ever-greater speed and productivity in the twentieth century made it fade away. The article deals with some of the possible hurdles when re-introducing this practice: the legal, administrative, and logistical hurdles, but also the cultural obstacles. Follows a presentation of Rotor DC: this cooperative company is specialized in the selective dismantling of building elements from large urban complexes slated for demolition or heavy refurbishment, and preparation of these elements for their reuse and reintroduction on the market. Based on Rotor DC's growing experience in deconstruction, the article concludes with a reflection on which materials or building elements are good candidates for a subsequent life.

Details

Authors

Lionel Devlieger

Editors

Minna Chudoba, Ari Hynynen, Magnus Rönn, Anne Elisabeth Toft

Title

Salvage and Integrity

Publication

Built Environment and Architecture as a resource, Proceedings Series 2020-1, p. 39-54.

Publisher

Nordic Academic Press of Architectural research

Date

2020

ISBN

978-91-983797-4-7

Languages

English