ABSTRACT
Resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector are growing concerns. The demolition of buildings contributes to these problems, as incineration or landfilling of materials is common. One solution is identifying and documenting building materials for non-destructive disassembly and reuse. This study provides a methodological procedure for this approach. By integrating these aspects into a teaching seminar, using a building to be demolished as an example, students gained theoretical insight into urban mining, applied their knowledge, and processed their findings. The seminar covered identifying criteria for urban mining and determining conditions, parameters, and the sequence of onsite documentation of reusable building parts. Life cycle analyses of these parts showed potential savings in greenhouse gas emissions. The practical experience sensitized students to the value of materials in existing buildings, which have high potential as material banks for future projects. Learning through making supports students in applying their knowledge in future design and planning processes, where secondary materials are becoming increasingly important. Life cycle analyses also promote understanding of reused and new materials’ embodied greenhouse gas emissions.
