Design for Disassembly and Reuse: A Synthesis for Timber Construction

Abstract

A global demand has emerged for a paradigm shift in the construction industry. In favour of sustainable practices, there is an increasing focus on timber applications. In this context, both academics and practitioners have begun to explore ways to implement new strategies leading to circular use, such as Design for Disassembly and Reuse (DfD&R). This paper aims to investigate scientific publications reporting on recent and emerging debates and practices in the field of DfD&R with a focus on timber construction. For this purpose, a meta-synthesis of a systematic literature review was used. This procedure allowed the collection, classification, and critical appraisal of 71 scientific articles published over the last two decades. By categorising the articles into main content categories and subcategories, their main approaches and methods could be systematically classified and critically analysed. The results showed what types of research are being produced, what aspects they are considering, and, within the life cycle of a building, what stages they are covering. As a result, this synthesis has highlighted the main focus in the field, leading to an understanding of the trend in recent studies. This article synthesises research in the field, contributing to the transition to circular timber building.