Circularity is a hot topic at the moment. More people are considering it when they think about materials to use for projects. The goal is to select more circular substances that don’t need to go to landfill in the future. Instead, they are suitable for reuse or recycling. We want to look at concrete today to find out whether it is viable to reuse. Then if you want help from a top architect in London, you can speak to us.

Broad use

Concrete is easily the most popular building material in the world. It provides a number of benefits, including a low cost and excellent versatility. However, it is not a green material. Producing it results in a high amount of greenhouse gas emissions. There are also concerns about what to do with it in the future.

In a positive sense, more recycling does take place today. Old concrete can be processed to create aggregate or fill materials. While this is better than it going to landfill, it does require energy and produce more emissions. As a result, it may not be the best answer.

Reuse

It would be better to reuse concrete without using all the energy to recycle it. Sadly, it does not happen very often. It could be an option though, especially if people are willing to commit. Help from a top architect in London can support this too.

The best option here is to leave the existing concrete where it is. If building elements like foundations and structural supports can remain, there is no need to use new resources or consume further energy. As long as the materials are in good condition and get sufficient testing to ensure their stability, you can reuse them.

If removing the concrete elements is the only option, the ideal solution to allow reuse would be to avoid breaking them into pieces. That can be difficult in many cases. If the elements were pre-cast, you could potentially take them to pieces. But, if the concrete was poured on site, you can’t take it apart. It could be an option to cut it into pieces to use for other things. For example, blocks of slab could be great for access routes or even wall partitions.

There are plenty of opportunities if people are creative. It is worth considering different solutions, especially if they can save energy and emissions, as well as keeping carbon locked in existing structures.

Talk to an architect in London

Coffey Architects appreciates how great a circular economy can be. We can accomplish great things with different materials. Recycling and reuse can help with this. By applying our knowledge and skills, and exploring creative and innovative design ideas, we can produce stunning buildings.

So, if you want some help, choose a first rate architect in London. We can work with you to make projects more sustainable.