Promoting Circularity and Energy Transition in the Urban Built Environment Through Building Reuse, Innovative Technologies, and Nature-Based Solutions

Cities worldwide need to tackle several intertwined challenges including but not limited to climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. To effectively manage these challenges, the regenerative transformation of the entire urban envelope into resilient synergistic systems, using an integrated human-centered approach, is required. Among the emerging suitable pathways to sustainable urban transition is the one adopting the concept of circular economy for resource management. Under this approach, all resources should in principle be kept and reused within the city. This proposed contribution deals specifically with building reuse, aiming at showcasing how multiple urban challenges, like circularity and energy transition, can be addressed through this strategy. The paper also explores the role of innovative technologies and nature-based solutions in supporting these tasks, highlighting how, besides circularity and energy transition, they can provide additional benefits to people and the environment. To explore this complex issue, the conducted research applied systematic literature review and case study methods. The scientific background of the paper relates to research work progressed by the author within the project Cooperation in Science and Technology Action CA17133 Circular City (2018–2022), while the case studies have been developed within the framework of the EU Horizon EXCESS-FleXible user-CEntric Energy poSitive houseS project (2021–2024), in which the author acts as Expert Member of the External Advisory Board.