Importance of Design for Deconstruction (dfd): the Views of Design Professionals in Ghana

Design for deconstruction (DfD) involves defining principles that make the deconstruction and recovery of materials easier, faster, and economical. It is an alternative to demolition that looks at recovering materials for reuse or recycling through deliberate and careful thoughts at the planning and design phase. However, its implementation has received several challenges, especially in developing countries. Knowledge of designers’ perception of DfD relates to its adoption since most design professionals will be moved by the importance DfD comes with and engage in its practices. Hence, this study seeks to explore the importance of DfD from the viewpoint of the designers in Ghana. A quantitative approach was used to obtain responses from 240 design professionals in Ghana through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was generated through a critical review of pertinent literature on the subject matter. Data from respondents were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Design for deconstruction is a key principle of sustainable development. By studying its importance, the research contributes to advancing sustainable practices in the design and construction industry. It promotes the idea of creating buildings and products that can be easily deconstructed and their components reused or recycled, reducing waste and resource consumption. The study contributes to the development of circular economy models and practices. The study is valuable in that it has the potential to establish a foundation for future studies that delve into investigating issues associated with DfD.