Facades-as-a-Service: The Role of Technology in the Circular Servitisation of the Building Envelope

Abstract

The servitisation of the built environment, through the implementation of product–service systems, is considered a promising business strategy to achieve a circular economy transition. This servitisation faces a number of practical challenges, among them the technological readiness and effective integration and application of existing and emerging products, manufacturing processes, and digital monitoring and management tools. The research builds on targeted literature review, and on a research-through-design approach based on full-scale pilot projects developed in an ongoing feedback loop between researchers, planners, and industry partners representing both the demand and supply sides of the façade industry in the Netherlands. The paper analyses the technical implementation challenges currently preventing the façade industry from adopting performance-based contracts. It then proposes the roles that existing and emerging digital design and engineering technologies, manufacturing processes, and asset management systems can play in the development, implementation, and fulfilment of such contracts. The paper proposes a multi-stakeholder, systemic model for the development and application of façade technologies capable of overcoming many of the technical implementation barriers to the delivery of performance-based contracts for integrated facades. From this it concludes that an effective development of building technologies should strategically align with the solving of economic and contractual challenges such as circularity-readiness, profitability, risk distribution, legal demarcation, performance monitoring, and residual value stewardship. The resulting framework provides a strategic and conceptual basis for the development of circularity-enabling façade technologies, accounting for the diverse and sometimes conflicting interests of the multitude of stakeholders involved throughout a project’s lifecycle. The framework aims to support planners, manufacturers, and builders accelerate the circular deep energy renovation of the built environment while also exploring new business opportunities.

Comparing Circular Kitchens: A Study of the Dutch Housing Sector

“…This could be explained by an expectance of consumers/users not accepting smaller kitchens, users being expected to have a poor perception of non-virgin materials (users want a new product) [65][66][67][68], or doubts about the safety and quality of non-virgin materials [62,69,70]. Other explanations can be that fitting non-virgin materials are not available at consistent quantities needed for kitchen production, due to a lack of reverse logistical mechanisms for the recovery of these materials [38,65,68,71,72]. A similar focus on adaptability is seen in Dutch proto-circular design practice, with Habraken [46], IFD [47,48], and Lichtenberg's "Slimbouwen" [49].…”

“…Many authors have studied the feasibility of applying CE principles to this "realworld" by identifying barriers. Wouterszoon Jansen et al [16] provided an overview of these studies and concluded that only Azcarate-Aguerre et al [38,39] focused on the building component level (a façade). Many of the authors have opted for a literature study, interviews with one or multiple stakeholders (once), or case studies of completed cases.…”

Forward and reverse logistics for circular economy in construction: A systematic literature review

“…However, the concept refers to military jargon and its applicability in construction has not been further validated. It was not until the product-as-a-service (PaaS) model was introduced to the construction industry, that logistics has been again discussed as a prioritized topic in the operational phase of built assets (Azcarate-Aguerre et al, 2022). CE business and ownership models require asset management practices to also consider logistics issues after projects and products are delivered; for example, the delivery and storage of replaced/repaired building elements.…”

A proposed circular-SCOR model for supply chain performance measurement in manufacturing industry during COVID-19

“…Considering the reverse of the linear supply chain, the recovery types of materials with high uncertainty also differ, such as primary and side parts, components and spare parts (Das et al ., 2022). The ability to meet the demand of suppliers that will do end-of-life activity; depends on factors such as the structure of the product, its features, the amount of returned product, quality and technological and economic constraints (Azcarate-Aguerre et al ., 2022). In addition, different recycling processes are applied for reasons such as complying with the law, responding to conscious customer expectations and making profits (Fargnoli et al ., 2022).…”