Second-hand chairs, new insights: what reuse demands from a construction team

What began with a call on LinkedIn from ROOILIJN architectuur grew into a concrete example of how reuse can be achieved in the construction sector today. But also what is still needed to make reuse the norm. We discussed this with Sofie Torfs, project manager at Kamp C, and Bart Mermans, director at ROOILIJN Architectuur.

A matter of quick thinking

"When it comes to reuse, you have to be flexible," says Sofie. "Finding, collecting and dismantling reusable auditorium chairs required some organisation. You have to be able to make quick decisions and mobilise people at short notice."

Reuse requires more than a circular intention; it also requires practical decisiveness. "As a purchaser of the materials, you have to dare to think creatively. The items that the architect drew up in your original plan may differ from the chairs or cabinets that ultimately catch your eye. The offers you receive are rarely identical. They may not fit quite as well as what was drawn in, but they can still serve their purpose perfectly. The challenge is: how far can you deviate from your original idea? The client, the architect and the contractor all have to actively jump on board. But the arrival of our auditorium chairs proves that everyone is willing to do so." The fact that this project is being carried out by a construction team makes it easier to make quick decisions and seize opportunities. In a construction team, the client, architect, contractor and other partners work closely together from the preliminary design stage onwards. There is consultation on the design, feasibility and implementation even before the site work starts.

When reusing, it is important to work with what is available at that moment. This requires thinking outside the standard construction process. But is that necessarily an obstacle? "Being flexible is inherent to construction. In this case, the customisation is in the design itself. Even when drawing up the plans, you have to take into account that something will change. In my opinion, reuse is not more difficult, it is just less familiar. It requires someone to light the fire, and then you see how quickly others become enthusiastic."

Timing may not always be right for reuse, so interim storage is an important parameter. "For the future of reuse, we need to take into account the need for sufficient storage space throughout the chain: whether it's with an intermediary or the end user, there simply has to be space," adds Sofie.

A spark for the future

For Bart van ROOILIJN, the story is above all hopeful: "We don't see problems, but opportunities. After our call on LinkedIn, we received more than 60 responses. This ultimately led to a concrete offer for a demolition project in Geel, which is also close to Kamp C."

The red auditorium seats were then dismantled and transported to Westerlo by contractor Beneens, who, together with Kamp C and ROOILIJN, is part of the construction team. In this way, all partners demonstrate that circular construction is entirely feasible when everyone is on the same page. "This example shows that reuse can work if everyone gets on board. An architect who is looking for solutions, a client who dares to make decisions, a contractor who takes care of the logistics. And suddenly you have a new stream of materials."

According to Bart, this is the starting point for something bigger: "Perhaps in the future we can create a logistical flow. A network between demolition companies, project managers and building managers. There are so many material flows that are still being lost today."

With the reused auditorium seats, the Vonk building not only provides seating for visitors but also takes on a symbolic meaning. The renovation shows that circular construction does not stop at vision, but starts with action. "These are the stories we remember," concludes Bart. "The small moments of resistance make the process beautiful. Later, we will proudly say: we just did it."

And this success story leaves us wanting more. Kamp C and the other members of the construction team are now looking for new partnerships and suppliers, including for glass that can be reused in our partition wall, or reusable carpet tiles for the auditorium stands. Anyone who would like to contribute to the next chapter of this circular story can contact us at email hidden; JavaScript is required.