The Reuse Booster: Eight exemplary real estate projects distinguished in the Circular Building Awards competition

On October 21, 2021, the jury of the Circular Building Trophies unveiled the winners of the most exemplary buildings in terms of material reuse. Eight projects in five categories (residential renovation and new construction, tertiary renovation and new construction, infrastructure and public spaces) have been distinguished by a jury of 10 professionals from the sector (architects, engineers, technical controllers, insurance brokers…)

This competition, launched in March 2021, is the first to identify and highlight all projects that have successfully implemented the reuse of materials in France. It was initiated by A4MT, which runs the Booster du Réemploi, the largest collective initiative in favor of materials reuse.

The stakes are high: the use of reused materials from deconstructed buildings has a clear impact on the carbon footprint of a building. However, if the practice of reuse is often perceived as complex, it is first and foremost due to the lack of information and experience sharing between the actors of the real estate chain.

The Circular Buildings Trophies complement initiatives already in place, such as the Reuse Booster, which works to massively increase the demand for reused materials in France.

It already brings together:

● Around thirty major project owners, investors, developers, users who are committed to acting on their own projects to create a demand shock,

● Looping.immo, the online platform capable of connecting supply and demand in real time (launch underway, several dozen projects already identified),

● Working groups bringing together design offices, technical controllers and insurance brokers, to standardize the specification clauses that contracting authorities can incorporate into their works contracts.

Overview of distinguished projects:

• The temptation to reuse, 4 housing units in Colombelles (Caen)
  The challenge taken up: to invest abandoned gardens to build low-cost housing in the heart of the city.
• Envie le labo (Paris)
  Challenge met: a circular economy laboratory to democratize reuse
• Grange Montsouris (Paris)
  Challenge met: To enhance the value of the built heritage and traditional techniques.
• The canals’ shade house (Paris)
  Challenge met: a project entirely designed in 2 months
• Great Hall of Colombelles (Caen)
  Challenge met: Reuse on a 3000m2 scale
• Résilience : the farm of possibilities (Stains)
  Challenge met: exploit all possible sources of reuse
• Monceau, transformation of a school (Paris)
  Challenge met: transforming a 1920 school into social housing
• La Capoeîra (Pau)
  Challenge met: short and long term bioclimatism on a polluted site