Circular Architecture: Francesca Zanotto’s lecture on sustainable construction

Building with Waste? It’s Already Happening! More and more buildings are being constructed using recycled aggregates or other materials from demolition sites. However, this is just the beginning of a major revolution in construction. We are entering the era of circular architecture. What is it, and what principles does it follow? This was the topic of a guest lecture given at Vistula University by Francesca Zanotto, PhD, assistant professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan.

Sustainable design in the face of climate crisis

Francesca Zanotto, PhD specializes in sustainable architectural design and its environmental impact. This is an extremely important topic, as we are facing a climate crisis, and the construction sector is responsible for a significant portion of carbon dioxide emissions. It is also worth noting that 40% of global waste comes from this sector. Additionally, we are dealing with depletion of natural resources. A systemic change is therefore essential.

Circular economy – a response to contemporary challenges

In 2015, the European Union committed to implementing circular economy as part of the Paris Agreement. In such a system, there is no room for waste, as everything runs in a closed loop. This also applies to architecture and construction.

During her presentation, Francesca Zanotto, PhD, discussed the idea of responsible resource management and sustainable development of cities. She referred to selected theoretical concepts, such as Richard Buckminster Fuller’s ideas on the efficient use of resources, and models of circular economy, emphasizing their importance in urban design. She also outlined strategies for more efficient resource utilization, illustrating them with examples such as the Circular Amsterdam initiative, which demonstrates how cities can implement circular solutions for sustainable development.

Circular architecture – designing with the future in mind

The key principle of circular architecture is moving away from designing buildings as eternal and unchanging structures. The main goal is to plan the lifecycle of a building in such a way that its demolition, recycling, and reuse of materials or components in future projects are as efficient as possible. This approach aims to minimize waste, conserve resources, and reduce negative environmental impacts.

Francesca Zanotto, PhD – expert in sustainable architecture

Francesca Zanotto is an assistant professor at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies at the Polytechnic University of Milan. She is involved in research, teaching, and design both in Italy and abroad. She is the author of numerous international publications, including books, articles, and conference papers. She participated in the “Highway to Wilderness” project, presented at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism in 2021.

She was also involved in the SYLVA program funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, where she explored the concept of metabolism in architecture, resource consumption in construction processes, supply chains, and material policies. Her current research focuses on the ecological implications of architectural design, particularly on studying circular design processes that contribute to the protection and enhancement of urban biodiversity. We hope that Francesca Zanotto’s lecture marks the beginning of fruitful collaboration between Vistula University and the Polytechnic University of Milan.