Our key questions are for the designers and building clients. They are intended to provide orientation and assistance during the planning process, especially in the early design stages, to design the project in a considering the circular economy from the very beginning.
Buildings
- Does a new building really have to be built or can we convert or extend an existing building?
- How do we ensure a variety of design solutions following Cradle to Cradle principles during the design process?
- Do we have to buy everything or can services be contracted for parts of the building, e.g. lighting as a service, green walls as a service, floor covering as a service, etc.? (Product as a Service)
- How do we keep the building flexible in the long term for changing usage requirements?
- How do we design the building as a material bank for the future? (Buildings as Material Banks)
- Is our construction project planningoptimized for the entire life cycle?
- How do we ensure that more CO2 is absorbed than released during the entire building life cycle?
- Where are the financial advantages when considering the entire building life cycle (e.g. fewer office sick days due to healthy indoor air quality, residual material value of the building)?
- How do we ensure that the materials used are free of pollutants and remain healthy?
- How do we ensure that the materials used can be reused without significant quality loss, or that raw materials are returned to the production cycle maintain the same or better quality?
- What do we use instead of composite materials? What recyclable alternatives are available?
- Can we use renewable insulation?
- Do we use climate-friendly and environmentally-friendly materials (production, use, and demolition)?
- How do we implement the documentation and traceability of the materials and components used? (material certificates)
- How do we ensure barrier-free access?
- How do we create more personal responsibility by the users?
- How do we teach changing building users with building functions on an ongoing basis?
- What design options do we offer future building users?
Energy
- How do we supply the building or the district with renewable energies in a sustainable, safe and climate-friendly manner following Cradle to Cradle principles?
- Can the building generate more energy than it needs?
- How do we reduce building energy consumption so that locally available renewable energy sources can provide for as many buildings as possible?
- Is a combined solution of photovoltaic modules over a green roof possible?
- How do we design the energy supply at district level and in the regional network?
- Where and how do we store surplus energy in a district?
- Where can we use waste heat (industrial waste heat, wastewater, etc.)?
Plant & Animal Life
- Do we plan not only for humans, but also for animals and plants?
- How do we integrate the highest possible quality, large-scale building greenery into our building designs?
- How can we create more green facades?
- How can we optimise the design process to preserve as many trees as possible?
- How do we ensure and promote urban biodiversity according to cradle to cradle principles?
- How do we safeguard and promote coherent habitats for rare species and wildlife?
- Natural areas only develop their full quality over time. How do we track success in the long term after the implementation of greening measures?
- Is green roof waterproofing free of herbicides and if not, how do we prevent herbicides from entering the water cycle?
- Where do we create connecting corridors between parks and green areas to establish a greening network?
- How do we increase rainwater surface evaporation?
- How is it possible to make nature positively perceptible to the urban population?
- Where can we upgrade sealed surfaces with high-quality greenery in plant pots?
- How can we make parking spaces water permeable (e.g. grating stones, paving stones, etc.) while maintaining accessibility for all (including those with prams, wheelchairs, etc.)?
- How do we create space for nature?
- How can we focus on the idea of “nature in the city”?
- What greening options do we have in planned interior spaces?
- How do we integrate urban farming and gardening into the design process?
- How do we encourage residents to become involved in projects bringing more nature into the city?
- How are soils kept clean or reused during the construction phase?
- How do we ensure that the city is adequately cooled and ventilated?
Mobility
- Does our district planning offer short travel distances by foot?
- How do we ensure that public transport is spatially separated from individual traffic? (e.g. trams should not stand in traffic jams)
- Are bus lanes available?
- How do we make footpaths and cycle paths attractive & safe?
- How do we ensure a coherent and flowing network of cycle paths (without detours)?
- Where do we create safe, i.e. theft- and weather-protected, parking facilities for (cargo) bicycles?
- Does designing the neighbourhood, block of flats, or building avoid detours for pedestrians and cyclists (e.g. passages, cycle paths)?
- Is an underground car park really necessary? It can cause a third of the grey energy of the whole building!
- How can we make surfaces in traffic-calmed areas more permeable to rainwater, especially parking spaces, so that rainwater can seep away?
- Do we include infrastructure solutions required for future mobility concepts in urban and property planning?
- Do we use climate-friendly and recyclable building materials for mobility infrastructure?
Materials
- How can we build so that no waste is produced, but all materials can circulate in the technical or biological cyclesaccording to the Cradle to Cradle principles?
- Can we reuse components or use recycled building materials?
- Where should repair and swap shops be best placed in neighbourhoods?
- How can recycled building materials be best utilized?
- How can architecture and urban planning contribute to a practical infrastructure, and to collect recyclable materials? e.g.
- Where is the nearest point to compost organic materials and how do I get there?
- Are collection points easily accessible to recycling companies?
Quality of Life
- How do we ensure that the design process provides added value for everyone following Cradle to Cradle principles?
- How do we plan spaces for creative development in neighbourhoods?
- How do we enable residents to participate in the maintenance of green spaces?
- How do we promote and support idea “sharing” (e.g. for rarely used rooms and buildings, mobility solutions, etc.)?
- Are open and indoor spaces designed to promote social interaction?
- How do we orient neighbourhood planning based on the principles of the Common Good?
- Can the satisfaction and health of the people in the city be quantified, secured and increased, e.g. with a Local Life Happiness Index?
Water
- How and where can we include rainwater and grey water use?
- Can we close water cycles?
- How do we organise the infiltration of rainwater?
- How do we ensure that groundwater flows and reservoirs remain protected?
- How can we educate residents about their water use and that of their building/neighbourhood?
Fun
- How do we encourage people of all ages to get involved?
- How do we encourage people to laugh, marvel and play through the project?
- What surprising elements does the project offer?
- How do we combine play, fun and movement with function?
- How do we interactively connect interesting places in public space?
- How do we offer space for personal development?
- How can we design the project help people to reduce stress?
- How can people experience the project with all their senses?
- How do we ensure that everyone involved in the project feels a tingling under their skin, and that the project is filled with passion and fun?
- How creat a place that is inspiring and fascinating?