Exploring the socio‐cultural sustainability of old and new housing: two cases from Jordan

Vernacular architecture serves as inspiration and learning material to create more impactful and meaningful contemporary building solutions. However, most research in this area focuses on the technical aspects of sustainability. There remains a gap in the sociocultural aspects of both contemporary and vernacular architecture. A coherent understanding of the indicators that inform this vernacular-inspired sustainable architecture is also still lacking. This study aimed to propose and categorize indicators of a theoretical eco-cultural sustainability framework and indicators. This was underpinned by a literature review of existing sustainability assessment frameworks and tools. A qualitative approach was used comprising 81 semi-structured interviews from two case study areas - historical and contemporary development, in Jordan. Framework and thematic analysis guided the analysis stage. Factors related to cultural appropriation were the most prioritised by participants and linked to sustainability. It was also found that due to its intangibility and complexity, most sustainability frameworks in the built environment only focus on the environmental criteria and have failed to integrate cultural indicators. Therefore, this study makes a significant theoretical and practical contribution in that it bridges this gap by proposing tangible metrics relating to intangible cultural factors so that this can be effectively incorporated into existing design assessment methods and tools.</p

Circular Water Economy in the EU: Findings from Demonstrator Projects

Circular economy (CE) for water aims to maximise value derived from water, processes, and practices. As a result, the recovery of wastewater and renewable water resources is used to offset the exploitation and impact of abstracting new water resources. New regulations such as the new circular economy action plan by the European Commission are emerging to promote circularity within the Green Deal agenda. However, there is still a need for research and practical insights into the interaction and integration of CE for water within existing policies and regulations, and its practical application specifically at the project level. This paper presents findings from demonstrator cases used to explore the opportunities and constraints in the policy, process, and procedural frameworks that govern water circularity in important sectors in Europe. Desk reviews are used to examine and compare European legislation against national and regional legislative frameworks within the different member states. Interviews and demonstrator project feedback enabled the exploration of the policy and value constraints at the project level. The findings provide unique insights into the policy and legislative enablers for and barriers to implementing CE for water in key sectors and specifically at the project level. The paper concludes with a five-point route map for new and revised policies and regulations targeting improved uptake of circular water technologies in Europe

Circular Water Economy in the EU: Findings from Demonstrator Projects

Circular economy (CE) for water aims to maximise value derived from water, processes, and practices. As a result, the recovery of wastewater and renewable water resources is used to offset the exploitation and impact of abstracting new water resources. New regulations such as the new circular economy action plan by the European Commission are emerging to promote circularity within the Green Deal agenda. However, there is still a need for research and practical insights into the interaction and integration of CE for water within existing policies and regulations, and its practical application specifically at the project level. This paper presents findings from demonstrator cases used to explore the opportunities and constraints in the policy, process, and procedural frameworks that govern water circularity in important sectors in Europe. Desk reviews are used to examine and compare European legislation against national and regional legislative frameworks within the different member states. Interviews and demonstrator project feedback enabled the exploration of the policy and value constraints at the project level. The findings provide unique insights into the policy and legislative enablers for and barriers to implementing CE for water in key sectors and specifically at the project level. The paper concludes with a five-point route map for new and revised policies and regulations targeting improved uptake of circular water technologies in Europe