Incorporating circular economy in the architectural design process: design methodology using gamification tools

Purpose The present study aims to formulate a framework acting as a design methodology for non-expert architects in circular economy (CE). This design methodology strives to define the circular architectural design process by identifying architectural circular design strategies, supporting tools, knowledgebases required and changing roles of architects. Such a framework may facilitate wider dissemination of circular design practices in architecture. Design/methodology/approach The design of the research methodology employs a three-phase strategy combining qualitative and quantitative methods. It captures knowledge from both literature and expert architects in CE. The first phase follows a qualitative strategy to capture explicit knowledge from literature. The second one follows an inductive approach through a survey to capture tacit knowledge of circular design from experts. The third one uses gamification, creating user-friendly, haptic and playful tools, namely, game board, wheel, cards, calculator and dynamic sunburst, to stimulate design thinking. Findings The study reveals 20 circular design strategies, translating them into 92 design actions that are applicable at early architecture design phases. It highlights artificial intelligence and digital market platforms as the easiest applicable tools in architecture circular design. This study reveals design for multiple use cycles as the most important required skill in circular design, while circularity consultation is the most vital new role for architects. The results confirm the reciprocating characteristic of the circular design process. According to circularity assessment, the “design with right resources” strategy has the highest circular impact, emphasizing using existing assets as the most impactful design action. Originality/value This paper presents a multi-dimensional methodological framework, depicting the relation between circular design strategies, supporting tools and required competencies for architects to be circular designers. This is coupled with a holistic circularity assessment from early stages, unlike existing stand-alone indicators, through the developed circularity calculator. The proposed design methodology acts as an accelerator model through gamification that features a step-by-step design process board, design strategies wheel, design actions cards, circularity calculator and dynamic class sunburst. This paper fulfills a geographical gap in circular built environment research by including experts from Africa with specific emphasis on Egypt.