Advancing Circularity through Phase Zero and End-of-Life Re-use:
The Davos Baukultur Alliance is a global network of stakeholders committed to cultivating high-quality living places through more sustainable practices in the built environment that prioritize culture and well-being. “Baukultur” is a compound German word that translates to “building culture”. It encapsulates a holistic approach to designing, building and maintaining human habitats, with an emphasis on locally relevant building practices and the cultures from which they emerge. Sustainability and circularity represent one of the four impact areas of the Alliance, driving sustainable and circular construction models, re-use and retrofitting of buildings and infrastructure, demand reduction and improved spatial planning to advance net-zero and nature-positive communities.
High-quality, sustainable and circular Baukultur integrates circular objectives within a more holistic framework of social, spatial and economic outcomes. It is aligned with the eight criteria of the Davos Baukultur Quality System. These interconnected dimensions inform the holistic approach to embedding sustainability and circularity into high-quality Baukultur and urban development, optimizing resource use, reducing environmental impact and creating lasting economic and social value.
To advance these principles, this paper explores two key impact areas:
- Phase Zero emphasizes early-stage planning and governance structures that embed sustainability from the outset, ensuring long-term resilience and adaptability.
- End-of-life re-use focuses on extending the life cycle of buildings, materials and infrastructure by repurposing and reintegrating existing assets.
Through case studies, best practices and policy approaches, this paper outlines actionable strategies for embedding Phase Zero approaches into urban development and maximizing end-of-life re-use to reduce environmental impact and create lasting value.
Conclusion
Advancing sustainability and circularity in the built environment requires a coordinated, inclusive approach that spans both the early planning stages and the end-of-life re-use of buildings and materials. Embedding circular principles into Phase Zero – the early-stage planning process – ensures that urban development is not only resource-efficient but also culturally resonant and economically viable. By integrating sustainability, adaptive policies and inclusive stakeholder engagement, Phase Zero creates the conditions for high-quality Baukultur and sustainable, resilient cities. At the same time, prioritizing end-of-life re-use practices allows for the strategic repurposing of materials and structures, contributing to a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
The Davos Baukultur Alliance calls for collective action to embed these practices into global urban frameworks to drive transformative change and ensure that cities of the future are resource-efficient and culturally resonant.
Team
Working Group Lead:
Janet Askew – Vice-President, European Council of Spatial Planners
Julie Kjestrup – Head, Policy and Thought Leadership, VELUX
Focus Group Lead:
Cédric de Meeûs – Vice-President, Group Public Affairs and Social Impact, Holcim
Laura Petrella – Chief, Planning, Finance and Economy Section, UN-Habitat
Publication
See the publication From Principles to Practice, Approaches for High-Quality Baukultur, May 2025, https://reports.weforum.org/docs/From_Principles_to_Practice_DIGITAL.pdf
The text on this page is an extract from the mentioned publication.