Our cities & towns are built environments - can the thinking behind them become circular?

The rate at which buildings are going up is fast accelerating and this presents significant challenges as an industry that is highly wasteful, whilst intensively using valuable materials. Kåre Stokholm Poulsgaard is Head of Innovation at GXN and works with applied design research in architecture through the development of strategies for informed design across 3XN architects and GXN innovation. He is interested in research and innovation in the built environment, specifically in the ways digital technology impacts human well-being, work, and learning and what this means for design strategy. Richard Boyd is a senior materials consultant at Arup. He became an engineer to deliver sustainable development, and has chosen to focus on making construction projects ready for a carbon-constrained future. He has lead several research and consulting projects applying circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. principles to buildings and infrastructure; the objects which consume more resources than anything else on the planet. His experience covers the design, construction and operation stages of these assets and derives from a diverse background in manufacturing, engineering design, international development, construction and research.