Designing for Loops and Flows

Taisugar Circular Village was built upon extensive research on circular building design, incorporating various systems and strategies such as building modularization, material passport systems, and service-based furnishings/ appliances. The three buildings in the village primarily utilize prefabricated modularized components, enabling efficient on-site assembly, easy future disassembly, as well as minimal construction waste. The material passport system assigns a unique ID to each material used, allowing for precise data tracking and ensuring that building components can be repurposed, extending their life cycles beyond demolition. Additionally, key elements such as kitchen appliances, furniture, elevators, and even artworks are leased rather than owned by either management or the renters, placing maintenance responsibilities on suppliers. By transitioning from ownership to sharing, products are continuously maintained to extend their life expectancy, reducing the necessity for new production.

The residential buildings were assembled onsite using prefabricated modules.

Environmental considerations were also central to the design. Bioregional factors—including climate, as well as local plant and animal species—were carefully studied, particularly in planning the courtyard and ecopond, ensuring that natural ecosystems remain undisturbed.

Other circular resource strategies of the village focus on (re)generating renewable energy and water. The building roofs are equipped with 2,500m2 of solar panels, generating 350 kWh annually. Recycled heat from a cooling system provides hot water. Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling support farming and landscaping, while an eco-pond naturally filters water and improves cooling. A biogas digester converts bio-waste into energy for communal kitchens. With a holistic view of the ecosystem, careful planning, and the help of emergent technologies, Taisugar Circular Village is a unique demonstration of how all things might flow in regenerative cycles.

As part of the water circulation system, the pond in the garden filters rainwater and has a cooling effect.

As the first residential project committed to circularity, building the village from the ground up required a fundamental shift in values and systems—not only within the Taisugar team but also among collaborating companies, banks, and residents.

To align with circular principles, new service-based supply contracts and leasing systems were developed in collaboration with providers of furniture, electric appliances, elevators, and more. Many companies were accustomed to simply replacing broken or outdated products, so the concept of continuous maintenance required a shift in their mindset and business model. Furthermore, bank contracts and user agreements were structured from scratch to ensure the residence adhered to circular principles while complying with legal constraints.

Leased furniture and appliances in one of the apartment rooms.

This experimental process also revealed promising opportunities. For instance, by tracking and documenting material data, the material passport scheme would help businesses create alternative ongoing revenue streams in the future by enabling efficient material recovery for resale.

While there are still many wrinkles to be ironed out, the iterative and ongoing process of reorganizing the value chain and inventing new business models together with stakeholders lays the groundwork for a broader transition.

Participants walk through the garden, observing various aspects of the compound.

Despite the project’s noteworthy achievements to date, Taisugar Circular Village is also facing new challenges in fostering a sense of community among residents.

Taisugar Circular Village was built with a vision for cultivating a community where residents actively support and sustain their local ecosystem.The village features shared spaces such as communal urban farming areas and a shared kitchen and dining space for collective cooking and meals. However, currently, much of the space is not utilized to its full potential. Discussions with the Taisugar team during the tour revealed that many residents view the village primarily as a temporary living arrangement, drawn by the convenience of its rental scheme rather than concerns for sustainability or community engagement. Notwithstanding the impressive array of circular technologies, systems, contracts, and business models, a sense of belonging in the village has yet to take root. This unique set of circumstances gives rise to very intriguing and meaningful design challenges such as:

• How might we reweave the connections between people and the built environment of Taisugar Circular Village so that residents can play an integral role in its ecology?
• How might circular technology for built environments be further developed for future lifestyles that people of the locality truly aspire towards?
• How might residents develop a sense of belonging to both the community and the land in the absence of a traditional ownership model?

The true significance of the Taisugar Circular Village project lies in its role as an experimental exploration of circular design. While it may not be an exemplary design outcome, it releases new problematics and pathways, unlocking unforeseen possibilities for the transition to truly circular futures.

A representative from Taisugar Circular Village gives a presentation.