Circular Design Principles: Between Theory and Practice

Chronograms of Architecture is a traveling exhibition that features a selection of Charles Jencks’ diagrams alongside newly commissioned drawings from teams of architects, designers and researchers.

As the exhibition travels, new works are added at each location. For the exhibition's stop in Brussels Circular Design Principles: Between Theory and Practice was commissioned.

The chronogram chronicles solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of construction material life cycle, juxtaposing architectural projects and theoretical concepts with actual construction practices. Spanning a period starting in the 1750s, the chronogram highlights historical instances of circular material use alongside more recent practices, showing how circular principles were applied due to material necessity long before they were adopted to alleviate the environmental impact of construction. The chronogram's extensive timeframe provides a detailed overview of traditional techniques and recent technological developments in the West that contribute to circular construction practices.

The chronogram is available on e-flux architectures and in the exhibition catalogue from Spector Books.

Authors

Lionel Devlieger (Ghent University), Michaël Ghyoot (Rotor), Adam Przywara (University of Basel), Karen Steukers (Ghent University), Arne Vande Capelle (Ghent University), and Louise Vanhee (Ghent University)