Round the Block: Exploring the aims and outcomes of the Kissanmaa circular economy themed plot handover

Abstract

Circular Economy has been brought up as one potential solution to the simultaneous and mutually contradicting global dilemmas: the climate crisis and biodiversity collapse requiring rapid action in our land use and GHG emissions, and increasing urbanization creating continuous demand for construction, consuming virgin materials and creating waste. The city of Tampere has attempted to encourage circular construction with a plot handover concept competition to develop new circular building material solutions and to advance the city’s carbon neutrality goals. The goal of this thesis is to evaluate the aims and outcomes of this thematic plot handover policy as well as its potential effect on circular transition in the construction industry in Finland. The data used includes the concept plans and interviews with a city representative and a select group of participants. The methodology consists of two rounds of analysis: a qualitative content analysis of the concept plans and a thematic analysis of the interview data. The competition provided a unique stimulus for the industry and was an awaited challenge. Key factors in the success were the appealing location combined with adequately demanding requirements. The city’s aims were to advance city strategy, develop building product reuse and support their partners, but along the process they were surprised by the high level of competition and as an outcome a dozen notable concepts plans of diverse approaches were created, not only material-based. The organizational learning was highly valued and despite its flaws, the concept competition succeeded in challenging the conventional construction regime.