Reused Con­struc­tion Ma­te­ri­als

The transformational journey from ‘waste materials’ at hand to valuable new components was investigated through an array of methods. First, we investigated the current market status through interviews with industry experts. Based on specific properties and availability of large material groups, the team then used the Sfc-system to categorize waste components and map their potential applications. Then the team selected and applied Design for Disassembly principles and iterative, architectural design methods to develop multiple novel architectural concepts for facades and interior wall systems from scrap materials groups of brick, concrete, soft flooring, steel, and wood. We have designed and prototyped new component systems from discarded building materials. The prototypes were to be beautiful, implement completely reversible construction principles, be sellable, and possible to manufacture through processes that are effective in cost and energy.

20 Concepts were selected to be prototyped in full-scale following criteria including: Material categories; feasibility, material amounts, and design aesthetics.

For five cases, all procedures were timed and documented, and full LCA-analyses carried out. Along with the physical objects, this allowed us to assess concepts in terms of economy, energy, and culture.

A second group of material concepts were developed further and illustrated. 1:1 work has formed the core work and led to exhibitions, lectures, and publications. A second series of illustrations depict scenarios of transferred technologies and novel sourcing methods and machines that would enable increased reuse.