On 9 October 2026, the Estonian cluster of SIRCULAR participated in the 29th Estonian Housing Forum in Tallinn, bringing the project’s approaches to digital, sustainable and circular building renovation to housing professionals, policymakers and researchers.
Organised by the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL), the annual forum brought together representatives of housing associations, policymakers, researchers and construction professionals to discuss current challenges and future developments in Estonia’s housing sector. SIRCULAR contributed both to the conference programme and to the exhibition area.
Bringing digital renovation into practice
A key contribution came from SIRCULAR partner TalTech with the presentation“BIM in the Renovation of a Typical Apartment Building: From Design to Construction.” Using renovation work carried out within SIRCULAR in Tallinn as a practical example, the presentation demonstrated how Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital workflows can support different stages of apartment-building renovation.
The approaches presented at the forum highlighted several aspects closely connected to SIRCULAR’s research and demonstration activities. Digital surveys and building models can provide more reliable information for renovation design and the production of prefabricated components. Accurate measurements and quantity calculations can also contribute to more efficient use of materials and help reduce unnecessary construction waste
Shared digital information can furthermore improve coordination between designers, manufacturers and contractors, while digital quality checks and progress monitoring can help prevent mistakes and delays during installation. Reliable building information also supports circular construction by facilitating material documentation, future maintenance and the potential reuse of building components.
Connecting SIRCULAR with Estonia’s housing sector
Alongside the conference programme, SIRCULAR’s Estonian partners EKYL, Tartu Regional Energy Agency and Balti Vara Ehitus OÜ presented SIRCULAR, its demonstration activities and its approach to sustainable renovation in the forum’s exhibition area.
Participation in the Estonian Housing Forum offered an opportunity to connect SIRCULAR’s work on circular and digitally supported renovation with professionals directly involved in the transformation of the building sector and to showcase practical applications emerging from the project.