The industry is becoming more and more aware of the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives when it comes to architecture, engineering, and construction design. From the actual design of buildings and public spaces to the materials that are used, there have been many changes regarding the way we think about urban and residential design. As a result, many firms are starting to take advantage of the benefits offered by recycled materials offer, reducing the amount of material waste and having a positive environmental impact. These are some of the most interesting projects using recycling materials.
The Origma Hut is a single room off-grid retreat in the Australian forest, which was custom designed and built by Gary Warner and Phillip Sticklen. This intimate hut relied on several recycled materials, including discarded 1880’s fence footings of a public park in Sidney and recycled wool blankets. At a distance, it also comes with a composting toilet that is designed to complement the main building.
Also in Sidney, we can find the Cook Park amenities, which are part of the Rockdale Council’s project of rejuvenation of the beach located right in front of this park. As part of the materials palette, this public space design project aims at reusing and recycling as much material as possible, including existing fabric, timber, and bricks, even water, which is captured from the roofs of the three-building amenities, and feed toilets, basins, and showers.
In California, we have a beautifully designed residence that sets the bar quite high when it comes to recycled materials used in architecture and construction design. The Maunu Residence, located in Altadena, CA, incorporated a wide variety of recycled material in its construction, including glass, hardiboard, corrugated steel, and redwood, reaching a whole new level of elegance and style. Built as a pool house, this residence offers bath facilities for pool and guesthouse alike.
Last but not least, we have the greenfield living private residential project, located in Los Angeles, California. Its eco-conscious design focuses on functionality and incorporates many elements of sustainable design to its construction. The house is set in a way meant to take advantage of as much natural light as possible, which would significantly reduce the amount of electricity consumed. Besides, this project stands out because of its attention to detail, as they used materials in the most organic way possible, leaving chemicals, carpets, tiles, or paint out of the equation.
