The purpose of this master thesis is to gather information from current practices and make recommendations to facilitate implementation of circularity in the building process. The past years, circularity has become a popular term in the built environment. This approach prefers a more circular way of perceiving the building process. Literature indicates that implementation of circularity in the building process, probably, will require different actors to be involved and different decisions to be made.
The following research question is proposed: “Which actors should be involved (in the beginning of the building process) to ensure circularity (implementation of circular building) throughout all phases in the building process and which actors should influence decision-making?”
The following research method is adopted: a literature study, and case study research including interviews. From this literature study, assessment criteria for the case study research can be conducted. The case study research evaluates the actor network and decision-making processes based on three building projects. These projects are:
Townhall in Brummen by RAU built in 2013; The Green House in Utrecht by cepezed built in 2018; and EDGE Olympic in Amsterdam by Architekten Cie. built in 2018.
This thesis concludes that circular-related actors and traditional actors with circular-related resources should be involved and be influential in decision-making in the building process of circular building projects. This study particularly demonstrates the benefit of early on involvement of the following circular-related actors: transformation agent, circularity expert, reclamation expert, dismantler, and legal officer. In order to increase their influence on decision-making these actors should become part of the project
team, or at least be taken seriously and offered room to influence decision-making. Especially, if traditional actors lack knowledge and resources for implementing circularity. Moreover, contribution of their resources to implement circularity is facilitated, if these actors are involved early on. Early on decision-making on circularity, particularly for long-lived layers (in comparison to short-lived layers), is beneficial for its implementation in practice. Later on in the building process, after the initiation and preparation (and design) phase, implementation is difficult.

In this research, a practical process framework is developed to facilitate the transition to circular urban area development (CUAD) of the MerweVierhavens (M4H). One of the five objectives of the Rotterdam Makers Districts is to become the pilot for the circular economy in the built environment of Rotterdam. M4H is an old harbour area that belongs to the Rotterdam Makers District. In previous research done by Team 1010, the potential circular flows for M4H have been analysed. The result was an overview of what is necessary for the transition to the circular economy of the built environment. However, no further steps have been taken so far. The transition to CUAD is rather complex, and the current urban area development process does not fit most circular strategies. This research, therefore, examines the process strategy needed to facilitate the transition to CUAD. Moreover, previous research has shown that the transition to CUAD requires a practical tool or framework. That is why, in this research, a practical process framework that facilitates the transition to CUAD, called the CUAD framework, is developed. The CUAD framework is based on the conditions for the transition to CUAD distinguished through the literature study and two case studies. The CUAD framework is tested through a pilot study conducted with stakeholders involved in the development of M4H. The CUAD framework can be applied to facilitate the complex and dynamic environment by developing areas with a CUAD vision, through short cycles and by incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives. The pilot study has indicated that the CUAD framework can indeed facilitate aspects of complex CUAD projects. However, the framework should be further developed. Nevertheless, this research has shown that CUAD is an ongoing learning process.