Circular (de)construction matchmaking: A matter of space and time

Industrial symbiosis (IS) facilitates the transition toward a circular built environment. Following IS principles, multiple buildings can be symbiotically linked via closed-loop material flows beyond the boundaries of individual projects. However, there are few IS matchmaking methods that support the identification of IS opportunities among multiple deconstruction and construction projects. This research develops an agent-based model to fill this gap. The agent architecture is designed based on the concept of shearing layers. Circularity hubs are proposed to support IS matchmaking by allowing larger transportation ranges and keeping IS requests active for longer periods. The model’s applicability is demonstrated through an industrial–urban symbiosis case in Enschede, the Netherlands. The model simulates the spatial–temporal dynamics of IS matchmaking as an emergent phenomenon under future scenarios. The results show operational evidence of IS matchmaking via the strategic implementation of circularity hubs. Overall, this research provides a new methodological perspective to explore the circularity in the built environment at scale.