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Digital Creativity for Circular Construction
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:30
Abstract
The course is about digital innovation towards a circular economy in the built environment. How can we bring together two worlds that are often too distinct: low-impact construction and digital innovation? Bringing digital tools already used in other sectors into the construction sector, students will learn about circular construction (e.g., reuse of materials) through hands-on learning practices.
Objective
In the fall semester 2024 we will focus on applying artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) to the circular design workflow and. The course will be taught at the Kunsthalle Zurich as part of an exhibition. By the end of this course, students will be able to use augmented computational design enabling circular construction, with a view to environmental implications. They will be able to assess the challenges and opportunities of low-carbon, circular construction and evaluate possible solutions using digital technologies to enable a circular built environment (more specifically, with reused building materials). To achieve this, they need to be able to do the following: 1. Apply circular principles using recovered building materials. 2. Compare different digital technologies applied in circular construction (e.g., LiDARscanning, drone imagery, photogrammetry, computational design, AI, computer vision, XR, LCA tools etc.) 3. Understand the potential and limitations of AI for circular construction, e.g. use machine learning to detect and digitize materials (computer vision) or to support creativity in the early design phases of circular construction (generative AI). 4. Communicate the importance and urgency of circular construction. 5. Assess the environmental impact implications of their design and technology decisions through a preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Content
Students will receive an introduction to circular principles by experts from the building industry and visit of (de-)construction sites where circular construction is exemplified. They will explore how to use digital technologies such as LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, scan-to-BIM,computer vision, computational design, digital fabrication, blockchain technology and learn about the design implications using reclaimed building materials. This course is meant as an overview/introduction of many digital technologies that could be useful for circularity and gives the tools to students to further study the technologies they are most interested in on their own. Creativity in writing, filmmaking, design, construction, etc. is expected from the students. This course will give the tools to students to learn more on LCA if they wish to deepen their knowledge further.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Language: EnglishCourses are on Tuesday afternoons in Kunsthalle or a room at ETH, but also require out-of-the-semester work and significant homework and site visits outside of class hours.
Literature
Çetin, S., De Wolf, C., Bocken, N. (2022) "Circular Digital Built Environment: An Emerging Framework." Sustainability - Circular Economy in the Digital Age special issue, 13, 6348, DOI: 10.3390/su13116348 De Wolf, C. (2022) "4 promising digital technologies for circular construction." World Economic Forum, September 13, Link Raghu, D., Marengo, M., Markopoulou, A., Neri, I., Chronis, A., and De Wolf, C. (2022) "Enabling Component Reuse from Existing Buildings. Using Google Street View and Machine Learning to Enhance Building Databases." The Association of Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Sydney, AU, April 5-9. Gorden, M., Batallé, A., De Wolf, C., Sollazo, A., Dubor, A., Wang, T. (2022) "Automating Building Element Detection for Deconstruction Planning and Material Reuse: A Case Study" Automation in Construction.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Signup End
- 04.09.2025
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| practical/laboratory course |
Digital Creativity for Circular Construction
Does not take place this semester.
Remark: Not offered in HS25. Next time in FS26.
|
No time listed | 7.5 h weekly |
Offered In
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Wahlfächer (Dies ist nur eine kleine Auswahl. Als Wahlfächer können aber auch weitere Fächer aus dem Angebot der ETH belegt werden, siehe dazu die "Richtlinien zu Projekten, Praktika, Seminare")
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