Determining spatial characteristics for circular building design: The case of kitchen alterations

Abstract Kitchens are frequently altered leading to unnecessary material flows. End-users’ wishes to customise their kitchen based on their changing priorities have been recognised as one cause for frequent alterations. Complementing previous research investigating kitchen alterations, this paper focuses on the spatial characteristics of the room. Spatial characteristics have been identified as determining factors for developing circular solutions for kitchen design which could reduce the extent and impact of alterations. Eleven households in Swedish villas, apartments, and terrace houses have been interviewed about their kitchen alterations to answer the research questions: What spatial alterations do they implement? and How could the spatial design of kitchens be formulated to support a circular built environment?. The outcome of the alterations has been documented through floorplan drawings and photographs. Based on the findings exemplifying end-users’ alterations, circular design strategies are recommended for the spatial design of the kitchen. These strategies have the potential of slowing the loops by enabling end-users to reshape their kitchen without extensive alterations and decreasing resource use and waste production. In conclusion, this paper urges professionals in the kitchen industry to use the formulated circular design strategies to create a building stock that is part of a circular economy.