Great Examples of Recycled Building Material in Architecture
Posted July 18, 2018 |
Tags: Recycled Building Material
Green design and building have become one of the most essential ideas of the architectural industry. Sustainable design is something that every architect aspires to, and so many innovations and initiatives have come about in recent years. One of these initiatives is the use of recycled materials in architecture.
This initiative defies the perception that little beauty can be found in recycled materials. Using recycled building materials can bring a lot of artistic vision and expression to a project. It’s not just about existing building materials from old sites and pavements; materials never considered before, like old tires and soda cans are also coming into vogue.
There are recyclable alternatives for most building materials today. Whether it’s concrete, glass, plastics, brick, or metal, they can all be made by incorporating some of the already used material. In fact, making any of these with a bit of the previous version is a lot cheaper regarding energy requirements and also lowers the emissions by up to 90%.
Here are some examples of the initiative to use recycled material.
SOS Children’s Villages Lavezzorio Community Center
Another popular trend in the industry to use the materials provided by the site. This is very important, as we’re always replacing nature with our expression of what should be there. It would make sense, therefore, that we do it in a way that enhances the beauty of the physical landscape, rather than diminishes it.
The two buildings mentioned above were designed by inFORM Studio and Ross Barney Architects respectively. They are also based on in-site materials and are successes. The Ann Arbor Library utilized ash trees from the surroundings that were being eaten by insects. They were used to make beautiful surfaces all over the building. The same technique was used for the synagogue designed by Ross Barney Architects, who used demolished trees for the gabion walls, paving, and sheathing for the exteriors.
Recycled Materials Cottage
Sometimes not much can be found within an existing site, and the architect must look for materials from other sites. The architect Juan Luis Martinez did just this with his recycled materials cottage in Chile. He recycled building materials from demolished sites in the surrounding area and made them into a beautiful home. The façade itself is made from glazing from an old patio.
Can Cube
The methods mentioned above may be worthwhile, but architects are raising the bar by going for even more exotic ideas. The Can Cube, by Archi Union Architects Inc. is a wall system made out of empty soda cans. It can also be adjusted during the day to make the most out of daylight.
Recycled Building
This one was done by Alonso de Garay Architects and uses old car tires hanging in the atrium of the building. They are used to contain a variety of Mexican plants which grow in them, making them fill in the two roles of a green wall and a definition for the exterior space.
The future of recyclable building materials looks bright. With innovative architects thinking “green” and looking for opportunities to recycle and reuse materials this initiative is something we can all support.
Sources:
1. SOS Children’s Villages Lavezzorio Community Center image source: https://www.archdaily.com/28636/sos-children%25e2%2580%2599s-villages-lavezzorio-community-center-studio-gang-architects
2. Ann Arbor District Library image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Arbor_District_Library
3. Jewish Reconstruction Congregation Synagogue image source: https://www.jrc-evanston.org/
4. Recycled Materials Cottage image source: https://www.archdaily.com/136967/recycled-building-alonso-de-garay-architects
5. Can Cube image source: www.archdaily.com/85278/can-cube-archi-union-architects-inc
6. Recycled Building image source: https://www.archdaily.com/136967/recycled-building-alonso-de-garay-architects
