Researchers at Graz University of Technology in Austria have developed a hook-and-loop fastener system for building components that allows walls, floors and partitions to be removed and reused without demolition, aiming to reduce construction waste, lower renovation costs and support circular building practices. The technology is part of the ReCon project, a collaboration involving TU Graz’s Institute of Architectural Technology, the Laboratory for Structural Engineering and the Institute of Biobased Products, working alongside industry partners Axtesys and NET-Automation.
Funding comes from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. In laboratory tests at TU Graz, the new fastening system demonstrated adhesive strengths on par with industrial-grade hook-and-loop solutions used in interior construction applications. The system operates by creating clearly defined separable interfaces between long-lasting load-bearing structures and shorter-lifespan secondary layers such as flooring, finishes and partitions.
One version retrofits existing components with industrial hook-and-loop strips applied to concrete or wood elements. Another integrates hook or mushroom-head geometries directly into building materials like concrete, wood or paper-based composites, allowing prefab panels to include built-in fasteners. Project architect Matthias Lang-Raudaschl said the innovation makes it possible to renovate buildings part by part.
How modular fastening improves building renovation processes
Instead of tearing out entire interiors, only outdated or worn elements need replacement, reducing material waste and minimizing disruption for building occupants. The research team intends the fastener system for non-load-bearing interior applications under moderate use, including movable partitions, reconfigurable walls, installations and service channels. The group is testing stamped-metal and injection-molded hook elements to increase load capacity and expand potential uses.
The ReCon project includes a digital tracking component. Prototypes embed RFID tags or QR codes in modular panels to record material composition, installation date and pollutant information. That data is intended to help manage reuse and ensure safe material handling at end of life. Prototypes of the hook-and-loop system are on display at “More Than Recycling, The Exhibition on the Circular Economy” at Vienna’s Museum of Science and Technology. The exhibit will remain open through the end of 2026.
Certification and standardization needed for industry adoption
The development aligns with Europe’s increasing focus on building adaptability and disassembly. Designers and policymakers are placing greater emphasis on modularity, circularity and reducing embodied carbon in construction. This fastening system supports that shift by enabling longer component life cycles and reducing resource consumption during renovation. Moving from prototype to market requires further validation.
The TU Graz team notes that additional durability testing, formal certification and development of industry standards are necessary before the fastener can be widely adopted. The system offers a practical and material-efficient response to a prevailing challenge in modern construction. By allowing buildings to be updated incrementally and enabling components to be swapped rather than discarded, the innovation provides a feasible route toward greener, more flexible interiors in offices, schools, hospitals and residential buildings. – By EuroWire News Desk.