Beta Realities

Düsseldorf Circular House

Can sustainability be designed into every brick?

The first fully circular building using upcycled brick technology, this pioneering structure redefines sustainable construction with Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certification.

Spanning 900m² across two stories, it will house a kindergarten on the ground floor and adaptable office spaces above, creating a dynamic environment for education and work. At its core, the project embraces a truly circular approach: every component is designed for reuse, minimizing environmental impact. A key feature is the integration of reclaimed materials sourced from nearby renovation projects, reinforcing a commitment to resource efficiency and waste reduction. Meeting the rigorous QNG Siegel standards, the building will also feature a digital resource passport, ensuring transparency and future material reuse. Set to break ground in Q3 2025, this project marks a milestone in circular architecture—proving that buildings can evolve, regenerate, and shape a more responsible urban future.

Project Region

Europe

Project Period

2024

Location

Düsseldorf, Germany

Team

Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke, Sven Bauer, Alisa von Postel, Andrei Dan Musetescu, Felix Grauer

Status

Concept

Programme

Education, Workspaces

Client

graadwies (Areal Böhler GmbH)

Collaborators

Polycare, graadwies, SO Ingenieure

Size

850 sqm

Visualisation

Big Picture Rendering

Sustainability and Comfort.

The concrete-timber hybrid structure is visible from the inside, creating a connection between the user and the materiality. The timber of the ceiling creates a warm and healthy indoor climate, while the concrete of the Polycare System is referencing the industrial site of the buildings location.

Connecting the inside and the outside.

Three intersecting volumes create a stepped facade, that builds a connection to the outside. In the groundfloor, where the childrens daycare center is situated, the three groups can access the garden independently. Small private terraces for each group gradually transform into a big shared garden. On the second floor, the stepped facade is expressed in a big covered rooftop terrace.

From industrial site to social hub.

Just like the interior design, the exterior expresses warmth and human scale through natural timber, while also citing the industrial landscape of the surrounding with the help of burnt timber.

Circular construction for generations to come.

The Polycare System uses decarbonised concrete bricks, which are connected through timber inserts. Like this, no mortar is needed and the bricks can be deconstructed and reused after the end of the buildings lifecycle. The building therefore acts as a material bank, an active storage for building materials for future generations.