In the heart of the Netherlands, Lagemaat is reshaping the way we think about construction. Unlike traditional demolition companies, which reduce old buildings to rubble, Lagemaat takes a radically different approach – one that embraces the past to build the future. This philosophy, known as “remolition”, treats existing structures not as waste but as a source of valuable materials, ready to be recovered, repurposed, and reintegrated into new developments.
On February 7th, the Reincarnate team had the privilege of visiting Lagemaat, one of our pilot partners in the Netherlands. As a progressive “remolition” company, Lagemaat is at the forefront of sustainable deconstruction.
They actively practice “LEGOliseren” – treating old buildings as donor structures, carefully dismantling prefab concrete elements, and repurposing them for new, modern constructions. This approach significantly reduces waste, conserves raw materials, and cuts CO₂ emissions, ensuring a second life for valuable resources.
At Reincarnate, we are exploring how our innovations can further optimize Lagemaat’s processes, making circular construction even more efficient and impactful.
During the visit, Arend van de Beek presented Lagemaat’s 1-to-1 reuse of prefab concrete elements, demonstrating how their approach allows high-quality building materials to be seamlessly reintegrated into new projects. This process extends the lifespan of concrete structures, while significantly reducing the demand for new raw materials.
Lars Nybom from Ragn-Sells then introduced their approach to functional recycling of flat glass, highlighting new opportunities to extend the life cycle of this critical material. The discussion emphasized the importance of improving sorting, logistics, and processing techniques to make material reuse more efficient and scalable
As discussions unfolded, one thing became clear – scaling up circular deconstruction requires collaboration, innovation, and a shift in mindset. The visit to Lagemaat reinforced a critical point: circularity is no longer an abstract concept, but a necessary shift that is already happening. The challenge now is ensuring that these practices are widely adopted and seamlessly integrated into industry workflows.
Stay tuned as we push the boundaries of circular construction – because the future of building doesn’t start with new materials, but with how we reuse the old ones.