Masonry logic as a framework for circular construction

Abstract

Circularity in architecture has emerged in response to the environmental consequences of contemporary construction. Dominant building materials systems, particularly cement-based systems, contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions while producing rigid structures that resist transformation. When conditions change, demolition often becomes the only viable option, resulting in the loss of embodied energy and the generation of waste. Architectural research increasingly investigates assemblies of discrete elements that enable adaptability, disassembly, and reuse. The paper examines the geometric logic of traditional stone masonry as the basis for a pedagogical approach for circular construction. Implemented within an M.Arch study unit, the framework reconceptualises masonry as a system governed by generative relationships between single-unit and assembly geometry. Students formulate design procedures as algorithms, explore variations, and test fabrication strategies through iterative prototyping to investigate potential construction methods and architectural applications. Three student investigations demonstrate how geometric rules mediate between material and structural behaviour, fabrication strategies, and circular construction principles. The study shows that circular potential can be embedded in the geometric organisation of discrete assemblies and argues that a geometric reinterpretation of stone masonry offers a transferable approach for integrating innovative computational design and fabrication within architectural education.