4.11 Circular economy & recyclability-oriented rehabilitation projects in WieNeu+
In the further development of the Smart Climate City Strategy Vienna, the promotion of a circular economy and, in particular, of building refurbishment according to circular economy principles has proven a key challenge for sustainable and climate-neutral urban renewal. First investigations show a great need for accumulating a body of knowledge at all levels in order to create framework conditions that enable and motivate all stakeholders to strive for recyclability-oriented methods and techniques.
As an urban living lab, WieNeu+ offers optimum preconditions for implementing pilot projects in this field.
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In 2020, a study exploring the circular economy potentials of the Favoriten tram depot owned by Wiener Linien was compiled by the company “Materialnomaden”. One key result was the drafting of a catalogue of materials and components which includes all building materials and masses that make up the tram depot plus a CO 2 matrix and which can serve as a basis for future material use.
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A study regarding the potential refurbishment of the building Quellenstrasse 217 owned by the real estate developer BWSG was conducted with special attention to the principles of a circular economy. The key finding of this study was that the current framework does not allow for implementation.
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WieNeu+ co-operated with CircularCityChallenge (CCC) . This is an event format searching for innovative circular economy-based solutions to cope with the challenges faced by cities and municipalities. As “challenge owners”, cities and municipalities propose current challenges for CCC. Start-ups then submit their ideas and products to offer circular economy-based solutions for cities and, in this way, contribute to climate neutrality.
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The project Van-der-Nüll-Gasse 22 by Sedlak Immobilien provides a practical example of the recyclability-oriented refurbishment of an existing older building and promises important results regarding the use of digital building models, life cycle assessments and monitoring. The project receives funding through the WieNeu+ “Grätzlförderung” subsidy scheme.
Outcomes
The principles of a circular economy must be taken into account during every planning stage of a refurbishment and rehabilitation project, including its earliest phase. The WieNeu+ projects Quellenstrasse 217 (BWSG) and Miesbachgasse 5 (ÖSW) were already too advanced for this approach.
Moreover, circular economy is an issue that is still difficult to communicate to developers and owners, also for the following reasons:
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At the launch of the programme, there existed no strong system of incentives (e.g. subsidies or cost savings) as a motivation for taking account of circular economy principles in refurbishment projects, which made it more difficult to bring co-owners onboard or convince tenants of the usefulness of this approach. This state of affairs was to be remedied from March 2024 with the new Refurbishment and Decarbonisation Ordinance of the City of .
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At the moment, the market lacks services and infrastructure to provide insights regarding those phases of a refurbishment project when developers and owners can actually implement a circular economy approach. This would e.g. comprise digital services for a status quo building analysis, specialised craftspeople and planners as well as conceptual infrastructure able to describe the steps necessary to implement a circular economy approach, measure progress and clarify responsibilities.
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Both developers and service or product providers are responsible for applying the principles of a circular economy. The latter group still lacks a clear understanding of the significance of a recyclability-oriented approach for the individual crafts. As a result, developers do not search for suitable services, and craftspeople do not (or cannot) offer them, e.g.: what do circular economy principles mean for building utilities? What should be considered in calls for tender, bids and procurement procedures?
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To achieve concrete progress, several developers must co-operate closely and comprehensively to enable a strategic approach. It seems ineffective to address this issue solely in individual spots without embedding these projects in the bigger context of an overall urban concept. A comprehensive digital and up-to-date survey of all buildings concerned is important to permit the early planning of the material flows generated. The provision of storage space and logistics is seen as a cost factor that will not be borne unless it is obligatory or entails some kind of trade-off.
Outlook
Circular economy and recyclability-oriented rehabilitation are topics of great importance for ’s future (Taxonomy Regulation). Here, engages in active partnerships with all stakeholders in order to create local model solutions. The project experience made with WieNeu+ is also part of this effort.
The “DoTank Circular City Wien 2020-2030” programme, which is domiciled at the Executive Group for Construction and Technology, is charged with formulating and preparing concrete implementation measures in theory and practice to bring about a circular economy-oriented city; among other activities, the urban living lab for circular building techniques in the Nordwestbahnhof neighbourhood is conceived as part of the transformation process towards a construction sector aligned with the principles of a circular economy. The Refurbishment and Decarbonisation Ordinance of the City of , which came into force in March 2024, also promotes refurbishment interventions that take account of the circular economy.
For the 2nd and 3rd WieNeu+ programme areas, the findings also mean that the circular economy is an issue that property owners must be confronted with right from the beginning to enable them to take account of this aspect in planning.