(1.2) CDR Installation at WE/TRANS/FORM

What can buildings learn from water bottles, sneakers, and smartphones?

This question is at the heart of our contribution to the exhibition We/Trans/Form at Bundeskunsthalle Bonn. Developed by the Institute of Design Research Vienna (IDRV), the Circular Design Rules demonstrate how principles of the circular economy can be applied not only to product design but also to the built environment which we understand as a complex interplay of many individual products.

Using nine concise design rules and familiar everyday objects, we show how materials, components, and services can be designed to become part of closed loops. After all, every building is ultimately the sum of many products – and each one must be conceived with circularity in mind.

Our contribution is an open invitation to designers, architects, manufacturers, and decision-makers to actively engage in shaping a regenerative building culture. At the same time, it encourages visitors to reflect on their own everyday experiences within a circular culture.

This project is part of the IDRV’s 2025 annual program, funded by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport.