The potential of integrating Design for Deconstruction as a waste minimisation strategy into the profession of the architect

This paper focuses on the Design for Deconstruction (DfD) as a method of designing buildings with their end-of-life stage taken into account, by enabling their successful disassembly in order to reclaim their components and materials, either for reusing into new constructions or for recycling them. This aims at minimizing the overall future construction and demolition waste, as well as the need for extracting raw materials by extending the buildings’ and materials’ lives. The work focuses on the principles and context of DfD and the potential of integrating it into the architects’ profession as a strategy for sustainable design. Their role as the ‘first link of the chain’ is discussed and a questionnaire survey reveals current practices in UK. Further implications and possible barriers for integrating DfD into the architect’s profession are outlined as well as enablers and drivers for encouraging its use