Suczyk, Pawel

Diploma Thesis:
2089

Topic:
Reversible designs for the course module ‘Circular Design and Construction‘

Editor:
Albert Pohl

University Professor Responsible:
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Katharina Kleinschrot

Supervisor:
University Supervisor: Dipl.-Ing. Johanna Gildemeister

Editing Period:
22.06.2026 until 26.10.2026

Abstract: 
This study examines how reversible joints must be designed so that components can be dismantled non-destructively and reused at the end of their service life. At the heart of the matter is the conflicting objective that joining techniques are traditionally designed for durability rather than dismantlability and the service life of the layers. The subject of the study is the predominantly timber-built tiny house, wood.ii. Methodologically, the study combines a materials inventory, a catalogue of joints and dismantling methods, a proprietary assessment scheme and an FMEA. The scheme applies the Urban Mining Index to the individual nodes and summarises their dismantlability into a mass-weighted circularity index. At around 81 per cent, the ‘wood.ii’ is already largely circular; its bolted timber structure is reversibly joined. The only limiting factors are a few bonded wear layers, primarily roof waterproofing and airtight membranes. Reversible detailed solutions are being developed for these critical nodes, from which recommendations and fifteen design rules for educational purposes are derived.