Buildings as Trees. Cities as Forests. A Circular Mindset to the Built Environment

How do we create something positive and regenerative instead of just reducing the negative footprint? What about buildings as material banks, reversible building design, material passports? Can we lease the "function" of a building? What circular business models exist in the building industry and in real estate today, which are beneficial for people, the environment and for business?

This lecture aims to create an understanding of sustainable development and how it is related to a circular economy and the design concept called "Cradle to Cradle".

The starting point is to encourage creativity and innovation by highlighting the Cradle to Cradle design concept more closely. In addition, a number of successful examples of products, companies, buildings, processes and urban planning are highlighted.

Laura will end the lecture with some insight into her private construction project in Kassjö: a round house built of straw bales, clay and completely without concrete.

About the lecturer:
Laura Vidje is a sustainability consultant at Esam in Umeå where she motivates organizations and individuals to promote sustainable development. Laura spreads knowledge about circular economy, healthy building and sustainable innovations. For her work, she has been awarded Cleantech profile in Northern Sweden. Laura is also engaged in circular economy by running the non-profit network Cradlenet North. Together with her husband, she builds her own house, focusing on healthy materials and self-sufficiency. The project is followed by Husdrömmar on SVT, the Swedish version of Grand Designs.

Umeå School of Architecture and an external media actor will document this lecture through photography and film for public viewing. For questions about our data policies, contact us at info@arch.umu.se.