From Demolition to Deconstruction: Barriers and Drivers of Timber Reuse in Australia, Insights from a Circular Timber Pilot Study
Researchers
Anton Nemme
Berto Pandolfo
Roderick Walden
Stefan Lie
Angelique Milojevic
Integrated Product Design Research (IPDr)
School of Design
Faculty of Design and Society
UTS
Australia’s construction and demolition sector is a major contributor to landfill. However, circular strategies such as deconstruction and material reuse remain underdeveloped in domestic housing situations, with demolition still prioritised over deconstruction. Deconstruction of dwellings requires skilled labour, is more costly and slower to achieve. Moreover, in Australia, the design of new dwellings rarely accounts for their future deconstruction when assessed by the techniques and systems used to construct them. This paper presents findings from a design-led, government-funded research project that investigated the recovery and reuse of timber from flood-affected homes in North Lismore, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The pilot study brought together local makers, government agencies, and academic researchers to co-design and prototype using salvaged hardwoods, demonstrating both the technical feasibility and cultural value of reclaimed materials. Through hands-on experimentation and community collaboration, the project uncovered both the potential and the challenges of embedding circular practices in the built environment. Key drivers of circular practices included community engagement, local maker networks, and interest in sustainable materials. Nonetheless, many barriers remain in several key areas: regulatory gaps, building design principles, deconstruction standards, infrastructure for material storage and processing, fragmented secondary markets, unvalidated economic models, and the high cost of skilled labour required for deconstruction. This case study highlights the role of design in operationalising circular economy principles through place-based innovation and material stewardship. It also underscores the need for policy alignment, the development of deconstruction guidelines, investment in material recovery systems, and the development of traceability tools to support reuse practices at larger scales. This paper offers practical insights into the systemic changes needed to shift Australia’s housing sector from demolition toward deconstruction.
