The circular economy applied to architectural elements in public areas

From the dawn of humanity up until the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the use of existing natural resources from the surrounding world caused very little environmental impact. Raw materials were extracted and waste returned in quantities that nature itself was capable of absorbing through natural cycles. The problem began to take on an alarming scale in the 20th century, and more specifically from the final quarter of the century onwards, with “the emergence of an economy based on consumption, a throwaway culture” (UNED, 2016). Alongside the major changes brought about by technological progress, this has caused a serious environmental impact.