By April 2020, 60 circular council flats are expected to be completed in Lisbjerg near Aarhus in Denmark. Once the flats are no longer fit for residence, 90% of the building materials can be reused without losing value. As such, a window from one of the council flats can be utilized as a window in another house. Or a supporting pillar can be transferred to another building. The project, known as Circle House, has received nearly EUR 940.000 in funding from MUDP.

-Today we face a big challenge with the recycling of materials. It constitutes a burden on both the environment and the economy when we produce more waste or require new building materials. Therefore, it makes sense that we improve the sustainability of the construction industry, says Head of Construction and Development in Lejerbo, Gerti Axelsen.

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The construction industry accounts for an estimated 30% of the total amount of waste produced in Denmark. Compared to other countries, the Danish construction industry has a high rate of recycling, but often the waste is recycled into materials of inferior quality. For example, windows are melted and transformed into glas bottles, or concrete from a demolished building is grinded and used as roadfill.

The project includes more than 20 of the leading companies within the Danish construction industry; from producers of concrete and windows to architechts, entrepreneurs and building demolishers. The lead applicant behind the project is Lejerbo.

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-We felt there was a lack of a full-scale project that could lift circular construction from successful attempts to a combined technological solution at regular market conditions. Circle House is going to be the proof that the Danish construction industry can supply and build circularly throughout all steps of the process. We have an ambition to increase the number of circular building projects in Lejerbo’s portfolio over time, says Gerti Axelsen.

The project has a total budget of around EUR 17.5 million. The first step in the project is to construct a model that will be exhibited in Aarhus and Copenhagen.

-Source: Environmental Protection Agency