This network consists of two Grand Solutions projects and 15 industrial Ph.D. projects. The network will create new knowledge and share their learnings with each other, the BLOXHUB community, and the industry as such. All the projects share a vision of contributing to a shift from the conventional construction industry to a circular resource economy.
Empowering construction via applied science and circular economy
Recognizing the construction industry’s important role in addressing climate crises and resource scarcity, the Industrial research program Circular Built Environment Network (CBEN) is a testament to the power of partnerships and integration of applied science to reshape construction practices fundamentally. CBEN’s formation stems from Realdania and Innovation Fund Denmark´s shared commitment to research-driven innovation, aiming to enhance circular economy practices and position research as a critical ally in overcoming broader industry hurdles. As a dynamic network for collaborative knowledge exchange, CBEN breaks free from traditional industry constraints, fostering a community where collaboration and applied science become the cornerstone of sustainable construction practices with new results to share.
Building on the continuous conversations within the network, the publication Building a circular future: Insights from interdisciplinary research stresses the urgency of systemic transformation in the built environment. It advocates for a holistic approach, considering climate, society, nature, and the global economy.
“A shift to a circular built environment can contribute to solving the climate crisis.”
Tina Fanø, Chairman, The Innovation Fund
As the building industry accounts for a vast part of Denmark’s total CO2 emissions, the purpose of the Circular Built Environment Network, in general, is to reduce CO2-emissions, resource- and energy consumption and minimize the use of environmentally damaging materials and processes. And also, finding ways of doing this without compromising on quality or creating new and derived challenges.
Through BLOXHUB, the Circular Built Environment Network share learnings with each other and the BLOXHUB community and disseminate important knowledge to the industry.
The network is co-funded by Realdania and The Innovation Fund Denmark.
GRAND SOLUTIONS Projects
Through the Grand Solutions program, companies and research institutions join forces to solve the construction sector’s challenges with the transition to a circular resource economy. All participants will be part of a network curated by BLOXHUB focusing on knowledge-sharing, inspiration and networking.
STRUCTURAL REUSE
A significant barrier to direct recycling of building components is the lack of standards, certification- and documentation systems. This results in a significant documentation burden and financial risk for the client, who chooses these in a construction project.
In the consortium Structural Reuse, DTU, Rambøll, Center for SMEs and Gate 21 amongst others join forces to develop a new system that will classify recycled materials for construction. Furthermore, a quality test of recycled materials made of concrete, wood and steel must be developed, so that it becomes as easy and safe for the construction industry to choose recycled materials as it is to choose new materials.
The overall success criterion is, therefore, to equate the choice of recycled components and new components in construction projects, and on this basis make it possible to develop business concepts based on the use of recycled components.
DTU leads the consortium, which consists of 8 partners:
Adsbøll Renovering A/S / Center for SMV, Aarhus Universitet / Dansk Standard / DTU Byg / DTU Skylab / Gate 21 / Lendager Group / Rambøll
Watch explainer about Structural Reuse
CIRCUE
Circue aims to create an integrated, scalable, and cost-effective circular value chain that competes with the linear construction practice on market terms by solving the existing research and market challenges.
A digital platform will be launched, which aims to become the circular construction sector’s main collaboration hub – from design to demolition. Our aim is to contribute with a building & material bank, a stock exchange for circular materials, and circular decision support. The project partners collaborate with all other stakeholders in the value chain, to create a seamless workflow for circular construction.
The Circue Grand Solution Project is a collaboration between a consortium of knowledge, commercial, and market partners, co-funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and Realdania. Circue digital platform is developed by CB Nordic ApS, which is jointly owned by five critical players within the circular construction sector: Matter, J.Jensen, HD Lab, Third Nature, and Twentyfifty.
Teknologisk Institut leads the consortium, which consists of 12 partners:
CB Nordic ApS / Tredje Natur / Matter bybrix / J Jensen / HD Lab / Twentyfifty / Teknologisk Institut, Byggeri & Anlæg / Syddansk Universitet / Danica Ejendomme / Lejerbo / Middelfart Kommune / Roskilde Kommune
Watch explainer about Circue
Research Projects
Evaluating mitigation strategies against absolute sustainability targets: Focus on the built environment
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Lise Hvid Horup Sørensen
COMPANY: Rambøll Danmark A/S
UNIVERSITY: Techical University of Denmark, DTU
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Aalborg University, BUILD
Driving toward circular business models: Conditions and strategies in the built environment
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Ingvild Reine Assmann
COMPANY: Rambøll Danmark A/S
UNIVERSITY: Technical University of Denmark, DTU
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Copenhagen Business School
SPATIAL MOTIVES IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT – SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION DISCOURSES IN PRACTICE
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Gunhild Askehave Rassov
COMPANY: Freja ejendomme A/S
UNIVERSITY: Royal Danish Academy | Architecture, Design, Conservation
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Aalborg University
DURABILITY OF CONCRETE WITH NEW SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Maxime Ranger
COMPANY: The Danish Road Directorate
UNIVERSITY: Technical University of Denmark, DTU
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF MODIFIABLE STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS FOR CIRCULAR USE OF BUILDINGS MADE OF PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Sara Sofie Vestergaard
COMPANY: Rambøll Danmark A/S
UNIVERSITY: Technical University of Denmark
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Contiga
Valuation of sustainability in tendering from a contractor perspective
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Lin Kjerulf
COMPANY: Enemærke & Petersen A/S
UNIVERSITY: AAU Build
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Copenhagen Business School
HOW CAN WE TRANSFORM AND REUSE THE EXISTING BUILDING STOCK ON A LARGER URBAN SCALE THAN TODAY?
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Simon Sjökvist
COMPANY: Cobe
UNIVERSITY: Royal Danish Academy, Aalborg University and ETH Zurich
Building platforms to scale the circular economy in the construction sector
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Julia Köhler
COMPANY: CircOP
UNIVERSITY: Technical University Denmark (DTU)
Circular transition of affordable housing – Generating social, environmental, and economic value by design
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Vibeke Grupe Larsen
COMPANY: Danish Association of Architectural Firms
UNIVERSITY: University of Southern Denmark, SDU
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Landsbyggefonden, Danmark Almene Boliger
Integrating biodiversity in urban development
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Lotte Nystrup Lund
COMPANY: Udviklingsselskabet By og Havn I/S
UNIVERSITY: Royal Danish Academy | Architecture, Design, Conservation
SUSTAINABLE TECTONICS – DURABILITY, MATERIALS AND BUILDING CULTURE IN REVERSIBLE ARCHITECTURE
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Heidi Merrild
COMPANY: Friis & Moltke A/S
UNIVERSITY: Aarhus School of Architecture
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Boligforening Ringgården, University of Southern Denmark Create
Evaluating frameworks for decision support regarding sustainability of circular economy within the built environment
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Sarah C. Andersen
COMPANY: Danish Technological Institute
UNIVERSITY: University of Southern Denmark, SDU
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Aalborg University, BUILD
From policy to practice: Regulating for sustainability in construction
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Andreas de Gier
COMPANY: Enemærke & Petersen A/S
UNIVERSITY: Aalborg University
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Chalmers University of Technology
SOCIAL COMMISSIONING: A RELATIONAL APPROACH TO SOCIAL VALUE CREATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Mia Kruse Rasmussen
COMPANY: AART architects DK A/S
UNIVERSITY: Aarhus University
OTHER PROJECT PARTNERS: Aalborg University, BUILD
ARCHITECTURE AND (WASTE) WOOD AGENCY: INTEGRATING MATERIAL TRAITS INTO NEW CIRCULAR APPROACHES
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Xan Browne
COMPANY: Lendager Arkitekter ApS
UNIVERSITY: Royal Danish Academy | Architecture, Design, Conservation
3DWAXForm – CIRCULAR WAX FORMWORK THROUGH HIGH-SPEED ROBOTIC 3D-PRINTING
INDUSTRIAL PhD: Nicolás Ramirez Ortiz
COMPANY: ODICO A/S
UNIVERSITY: University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
GRAND LECTURE:
On the journey towards a circular economy
With the launch of the European Green Deal the ambitious vision of making Europe climate neutral in 2050 was introduced. We know the impact of the built environment on the climate, we know we need to enhance and accelerate the green transition. However, the question remains, how exactly do we do this?
Debate Participants |
- Kåre Stokholm Poulsgaard, Head of Innovation, GXN
- Jesper Minor, Founder & CEO, Minor Change Group
- Bas van de Westerlo, Consultant in Circular Construction & Procurement, C2C ExpoLAB
- Tone Søndergaard, Director, DI New York, Danish Cleantech Hub
- Josien Piek, Head of EMEA, GRESB
- Emma Gains, Sustainable Development Lead, Arup
Moderator |
- Pernille Berg, fil.dr. Science Manager, Science Forum BLOXHUB
WATCH NOW
Articles and papers
CONTACT US
Would you like to hear more about Science Forum and Circular Built Environment Network? I’m ready to help.
Jacob Rask
Science Director, Regenerative Built Environment Network
jra@bloxhub.org
