Baukreisel e.V. is a Berlin-based collective working on circular construction, reuse, and the transformation of existing buildings. Founded in 2022, the non-profit organization brings together architects, engineers, political and social scientists, economists, and lawyers. Its stated focus is on what already exists: buildings in the stock and materials that can remain in circulation instead of being discarded.
The group’s work combines research, teaching, project development, and consultancy. On its website, Baukreisel describes its practice as one that reads existing structures more carefully and gives materials back value, both materially and immaterially. Rather than treating preservation as an end in itself, it looks for solutions that are ecologically, economically, and socially viable. That approach places Baukreisel in the wider debate on the building transition in Germany, where reuse and circularity are increasingly viewed as alternatives to demolition and new construction.
Baukreisel’s portfolio shows a strong emphasis on applied research and design work. Named projects include studies and interventions on material reuse, window refurbishment, concrete reuse, and building transformation. Among them are COMA, a project on product-based reuse of concrete; WIMA, focused on window preservation through upgrade and transformation; and OFDI, on strategies for window reuse. The collective also works on education formats such as summer schools and workshops, including projects linked to Venice Biennale 2023 and the Horst Ateliers.
The organization lists offices in Berlin and Cologne, suggesting a working scope that extends beyond one city. Its partnerships and project references indicate activity across Germany and, in some cases, in broader European contexts.