Circle of Life: circularity as an approach to sustainability in the design of the expanding Oulu Museum and Science Center

Abstract

The construction sector consumes more and more resources every year to meet the needs of an ever-growing population on the planet. As the largest individual waste producer in the world, its operations currently generate more than a third of world’s total waste stream. This is a result of the linear construction process prevailing in the industry, which leads to the disposal of extracted resources after building’s life cycle. Despite still having a small foothold in the industry, circular construction has shown potential to reduce waste with a closed-loop system that keeps resources in circulation. The aim of the work was to examine the possibilities of circularity in mitigating emissions created in construction, and how accumulated waste can be reduced by utilizing already existing resources in the design of a museum extension for the Oulu Museum and Science Center -project.

The thesis consists of both research and design work. The design project is based on an architectural competition that was organized during the period of the thesis. At the beginning of the work, the framework of the thesis is introduced with a competition brief and a research on the position of circular economy in the construction industry. Second, the essence of museums is explored through three case studies, which were chosen due to their influence on the design. Then, the background of the site and the surrounding area is examined with studies that focus on the past and the present. After these, the design work is presented starting with context and process, followed by site plan with analysis and then the spatial and exterior design of the building. Next, the thesis delves into the strategies of circular economy that were found during the initial research and put them into practice by utilizing them in planning of tectonics and the use of materials in the design. Finally, the thesis is concluded with reflections on the successes and shortcomings of the project. Literature research has been used as the research method.

The thesis sought to create a sustainable and engaging museum design utilizing the reuse strategies of circular economy through tectonics and materials. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that by using the circularity approach in a design, the environmental impacts caused by construction can be mitigated in a few ways. The preservation of existing buildings, designing for disassembly and reuse and recycling of materials are measures that were taken in the design to reduce environmental harm from the resource- and waste-intensive operations of construction. Also, spatial flexibility and unique character of the museum were achieved through these actions.