The architectural sector plays a critical role in global resource consumption and waste generation, positioning architecture at the center of circular economy discourse. In recent years, circular economy principles have increasingly entered architectural research as a means of challenging linear models of design, construction, use, and demolition. However, much of the existing literature remains focused on technological solutions or policy frameworks and is predominantly rooted in developed contexts, offering limited insight into how circular economy principles can be effectively integrated into architectural practice within diverse socio-economic and cultural settings.
This study aims to reframe architectural practice through the lens of the circular economy, with a particular focus on the Iranian built environment. Adopting a qualitative and analytical research design, the study is based on a thematic synthesis of sixteen recent peer-reviewed publications addressing circular economy applications in architecture and the built environment. The analysis identifies key architectural design strategies supporting circularity, examines systemic barriers to their implementation, and interprets these findings in relation to the contextual conditions shaping architectural practice in Iran.
The findings indicate that circular economy in architecture represents a fundamental shift in design thinking, redefining buildings as adaptable systems embedded within long-term material and spatial cycles. Design strategies such as reuse, adaptability, design for disassembly, and modularity emerge as central mechanisms for enabling circularity; however, their effectiveness is strongly mediated by architectural decision-making processes, regulatory frameworks, material supply chains, and economic conditions. In the Iranian context, vernacular architectural traditions demonstrate inherent alignment with circular principles, while contemporary practice remains constrained by linear construction models and institutional limitations.
Building on these insights, the study proposes a context-sensitive conceptual framework that positions architectural practice as a mediating process between circular economy principles and built outcomes. The framework emphasizes the dynamic interaction between design strategies, professional agency, and contextual conditions, contributing a practice-oriented perspective to circular architecture discourse. While grounded in the Iranian context, the findings offer transferable insights for advancing circular architecture in other regions facing comparable environmental and developmental challenges.