Reimagining circular futures – start today

The national 'Week of the Circular Economy' takes place from 19 to 27 March 2026. As part of this week, the event 'Reimagining circular futures – start today' will take place on Friday 27 March.

About This Event

The program is comprised of two separate parts. In the morning, PhD students and postdocs from the four technical universities will present short, energetic pitches about how their research contributes to the transition to a circular built environment. During the afternoon, we will use these insights as part of a practical group scenario and visualisation activity. Help to sketch a circular future!

The Organizers

This event is organised as part of the collaboration between 4TU. Built Environment (Domain Acceleration Team Circularity + Sustainability) and Cirkelstad, and with the Circular Built Environment Hub of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at TU Delft. 4TU. Built Environment (Domain Acceleration Team Circularity + Sustainability) connects the four technical universities (TU Delft, University of Twente, Eindhoven University of Technology, Wageningen University & Research) around circularity and sustainability in the built environment. Cirkelstad joins this circle as a national network of public and private sector leaders who contribute this knowledge to regional communities and concrete projects, with the shared ambition of accelerating the transition to a circular economy. The Circular Built Environment Hub brings together researchers and lecturers from the four departments of the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, with the aim of promoting potential synergies between the various disciplines and developing and stimulating knowledge towards a circular built environment.

Programme

The programme is comprised of two separate parts. In the morning, PhD candidates and postdocs from the four technical universities will present short, energetic pitches about how their research contributes to the transition to a circular built environment. 

• Krista van Zandwijk – UPSCALE: decentralized digital passports and data spaces to enable reuse of construction and demolition waste.
• Idil Gümrük – Circular Application of 3D Concrete Printing: adaptable structural system, design for disassembly en computational design framework
• Jintian Xu – Urban Mining by Design: Urban Mining Index, platform‑enabled spatial prioritisation for urban mining and circular governance.
• Li Jiang – Supporting information activities in reuse processes through digitalization; ontwerp en positie van digitale platforms voor bouwdeel‑hergebruik.
• Emma Lubbers - Developing a better understanding of Circular Renovation: Mapping and Categorising Strategies in Practice
• Xinyu Lin – Peri‑Urban Wastescape Regeneration: spatial dimensions of circular development, food systems en peri‑urbane gebieden.
• Eline Baert - Circular Collaboration for the circular renovation of social housing

During the afternoon, we will use these insights as part of a practical group scenario and visualisation activity. Help to sketch a circular future!

Programme schedule

10:00 – 10:15 

Walk-in

10:15 – 10:30 

Welcome and introduction

10:30 – 12:15 

Pecha Kucha Session – 4TU PhDs and postdoc researchers

12:15 – 13:00 

Lunch

13:00 – 14:00 

Introduction to the scenarios (World Café)

14:00 – 14:15 

Break

14:15 – 15:15 

Developing the narratives of the scenarios – “Imagining everyday circularities” (Abe Hendriks)

15:15 – 15:30 

Break

15:30 – 16:45 

Visualisation of the scenarios – Circular Places

16:45 – 17:00 

Conclusion and next steps, drinks

For Who

Professionals in the construction field (architects, urbanists, etc.), policy makers, researchers, students and others who are involved with circularity in the built environment.

Registration

Registration can be done by March 24th via this form. The morning and afternoon can be registered for separately, or you can sign up for the full day. The event can take a maximum of 50 participants. 

Practical Information

Language: English and Dutch

Location and accessibility: the event takes place in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of the Delft University of Technology (Berlagezaal). Visit the TU Delft Campus Website for more information about accessibility. The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment is building 8. 
More information about the accessibility of the TU Delft Campus can be found  here.