Superuse – Constructing new architecture by shortcutting material flows, by Ed van Hinte, Jan Jongert and Césare Peeren. Editors say: You could recycle, discard or even burn them of course: cable reels, window frames, washing machines, diapers, crates, carpet tiles, double glazing panels or old buses. The other option is to put them to good use: Superuse. It happens everywhere, albeit on a modest scale. Architects apply these materials in their designs. It requires special attention and new skills, but the resulting images can have quite unexpected qualities. Superuse is a practical and inspiring book about the construction of new buildings with surplus materials. It was initiated by the Rotterdam Recyclicity foundation, which specifically addresses this theme. We all know that green issues, sustainability, reuse are often associated with dull, unstylish and ugly objects and buildings no one would really lust for, but the authors of Superuse demonstrate that in many places, “dull” is on its way to the dump as a descriptive for reuse projects. The examples in their book make reuse look original and fun. But I appreciated that they are also clearly aware of several drawbacks that hamper the best intentions in this medium, even including in… (more)
(Posted by Regine Debatty in Sustainable Design at 3:48 PM)