Kristiaan Borret on Scaling Reuse in Construction: From Pioneering to Mainstream Practices

This lecture, part of the '1.Lectures – Repair and Renewal' series, features Kristiaan Borret discussing the shift of reuse in construction from pioneering practices to a mainstream approach. Borret will draw on experiences from Brussels to demonstrate how scaling up reuse of materials and structures can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in the construction sector.

Arcam and the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture present the '1.Lectures – Repair and Renewal' lecture series, designed for students and those interested in climate challenges in design. On May 7, Kristiaan Borret, an urban planner and policymaker with experience as Bouwmeester Maître Architecte (BMA) of the Brussels-Capital Region and City Architect of Antwerp, will deliver a lecture. He will explore how the reuse of materials, ranging from natural stone to intact sanitary elements, has become increasingly critical for sustainable urban development. Borret will argue that to achieve systemic impact on reducing CO₂ emissions in construction, attention must extend beyond finishing materials to the building's core structure. He will detail how Brussels has utilized formal instruments and informal practices, supported by the BMA, to embed reuse of materials, structures, and buildings into public tenders, real estate projects, and building codes. The lecture aims to convey that reuse in urban development should no longer be a niche activity but a mainstream ambition.

Tickets for the lecture are €9, which includes entry to Arcam. A free entry ticket can be obtained via Ticketstraat. Students and staff of the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture can attend for free upon verification through the ticket button. The lecture will be held in English.