Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.70077/et2er.7.2.5
The role of upcycling architecture in mitigating climate change and implementing a circular economy
Bartosz Felski
orcid.org/0000-0002-5028-406X
; Sopot University of Applied Sciences
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The article addresses the issue of implementing circular economy principles in architecture as a response to the
escalating climate and resource crisis. Particular attention is given to the concept of generative upcycling, understood
as the process of reusing building resources in a way that enhances their functional and environmental value, while
simultaneously initiating further circular activities. The text analyzes the phenomena of urban mining, adaptive reuse,
and material recovery, highlighting both their potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their capacity to
activate local communities. The author compares two models of circularity—an analytical, systemic model, characteristic
for developed countries and an organic one, rooted in the economic conditions of developing regions—emphasizing the
potential for mutual inspiration. A case study from the author’s practice demonstrates how the practical implementation
of generative upcycling within the design process can initiate multiple reuse cycles of building components. The findings
indicate that circular architecture, perceived as an ongoing process rather than a final product, may serve as an effective
tool for climate change mitigation, reducing demand for non-renewable resources, and strengthening urban resilience
in an increasingly unstable climate.
Keywords
Circular architecture; climate change; upcycling
Hrčak ID:
341341
URI
Publication date:
16.12.2025.
Visits: 282 *