What is Reuse?

Reuse stands as the highest pillar of the circular hierarchy, prioritizing the preservation of existing structures and components before recycling is ever even considered. This practice involves both adaptive reuse, finding new functions for aging buildings, and component salvage, where structural elements like steel beams or timber are harvested for new projects. The importance of this approach lies in the fact that the most sustainable building is often the one that already exists; by reusing what we have, we eliminate the massive carbon costs associated with extracting and manufacturing new materials. Despite its benefits, reuse faces major limitations, particularly regarding the legal and safety warranties of used structural elements and the logistical costs of gathering them, which can currently exceed the price of purchasing new materials. Older structures also frequently contain low-quality materials or hazardous substances that make safe recovery a significant technical challenge. 

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To address these challenges, the symposium brings together professional minds, to discuss where the practical boundaries of reuse lie and how they can be expanded. We will challenge participants to rethink what can be salvaged and what technical innovations are required to make reuse a standard industry practice. Recent developments for 2026 include the rise of Urban Mining Hubs that facilitate the exchange of surplus materials and advanced separation technologies that allow complex components to be disassembled without damage. As Jane Jacobs, the legendary urbanist, observed,  

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“New ideas must use old buildings”. 

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This prompts a critical reflection: what technical and aesthetic compromises are we willing to make to give a structure a second life, and how do we balance the preservation of history with the necessity of progress?