ABSTRACT
Over the last 50 years, Western economic theories have been increasingly adopted as a model for worldwide development. The urbanisation that accompanied this development has resulted in many buildings being constructed to last only a short period before being demolished and replaced, which requires prodigious amounts of materials and energy at every phase of their life cycle. However, supplies of many materials in common use today are predicted to run out. Ideas such as fashion replacement, built-in obsolescence and disposability have infiltrated the building industry.
