VTT and the Department of Architecture at Aalto University have joined their expertise to conceptualize a new type of house designed for disassembly. The aim is to build and dismantle the demohouse multiple times, during which the functionality of various building materials and services can be tested during dismantling and reusing, in addition studying construction that promotes the circular economy.
The circular economy has been discussed for a long time in the context of the built environment, but good examples of the circular economy in Finland are still rare. There are plenty of international examples, for instance, from the Netherlands and Denmark, but not much from Finland, because the circular economy of the built environment is difficult and frustrating, dirty, unreliable, administratively and legally complex, and economically unprofitable. An exception is the "Closing Loops" storage building ordered by the City of Helsinki for Mustikkamaa, which will be completed by the summer of 2025. It is an ambitious circular economy project that should have several sister projects. However, little has been done in Finland to promote the circular economy on an industrial scale that would have economic significance and initiate production based on new business models within the industry.
Easily disassembled playground for building materials
The Finnish Circular Demonstrator is a new circular economy living lab aimed at creating a playground for various companies to test the recyclability of their products in practice. The demo house will be designed, built, and dismantled at least twice during its short lifecycle using recycled or recyclable building materials and technologies that promote them. Its disassembly should be as easy as that of a log house. The demo house creates space for innovation and new business development around circular economy and resilience for all sectors of building product companies, whether the product is wood, steel, concrete, or another material. Despite the fact that the building can host the testing of many products and materials, the design of the building is guided by consistency and high quality, and despite its nature, it will not become a collage of different materials. The project aims to ideate and define various connections and the compatibility of different solutions, as well as to change industry practices and standards to enable disassembly and reuse.
The purpose of the demo house is to challenge and stimulate discussion
The demo house will be located in an easily accessible and visible place to stimulate discussion about the circular economy of buildings both in society and within industry. The aim is to challenge current operating models by developing circular economy standards and changing industry practices from the use of virgin materials to utilization circular materials. In this way, we give innovative companies a unique platform to showcase their solutions to a wider audience than usual. Thus, the house serves as a testing and learning environment for circular economy innovations, and several cities have an ambitious desire to be the first pioneers of such a circular economy. Currently, discussions about the locations of the demo house are being held with Helsinki, Turku, Lahti, and Espoo.
VTT will publish the concept of the circular economy demo house project together with Aalto University on January 24, 2025, starting at 10:00 at Maria01 / Urban3.
Register for the event:
Circular Demonstrator Concept Launch Event
