Designing for circularity is the most effective method of reducing waste in building design.
R.K. Malik - Founder & Principal Architect, RK Malik & Associates
Putting the circular economy’s tenets into practice entails seeking waste reduction and prolonging the useful life of resources. Designing for circularity also takes into account the entire lifecycle of structures and their constituent parts, from extraction to disposal, and putting techniques like recycling, reuse, and biodegradability into practice that can reduce waste production and disposal.
Lean construction, a management strategy, seeks to get rid of waste and inefficiencies in the building process. It is founded on the idea of lean manufacturing, which emphasizes providing value to the customer, streamlining information and material flow, and reducing waste and variation. It includes finding and removing wasteful practices, overproduction, waiting, flaws, overprocessing, inventory, motion, and transportation. In addition to improving cost, time, and customer satisfaction, lean construction can assist civil engineers in cutting down construction waste.
The project Chattarpur Experience Centre was envisioned as a benchmark in reducing construction waste through thoughtful planning. The entire structure was conceptualised using modular design principles, allowing for prefabricated components that minimised on-site cutting and material spillage. Even the layout was optimised to reduce unnecessary material usage, aligning the design intent with structural efficiency. Local materials were sourced to reduce transport waste, and surplus materials were repurposed into display fixtures and furniture within the space.
