10 Projects That Incorporate Recycled and Recyclable Materials in Creative Ways

As the world becomes increasingly conscious of the need for sustainable living, more and more architects are seeking ways to incorporate recycled and recyclable materials into their designs. This approach not only helps to reduce waste but also showcases the versatility and beauty of materials that might otherwise be discarded. There are countless ways to repurpose materials and create something beautiful and functional, from homes to commercial buildings.

Ngói Space l H&P Architects. © Le Minh Hoang

Recyclable Materials in Architectural Projects

This article will explore ten inspiring architectural projects demonstrating the potential of recycled and recyclable materials. Whether you are an architect seeking to incorporate sustainable materials into your designs or simply looking for inspiration, there is something here for everyone.

Also Read: 14 Sustainable Houses You Would Love to Live in.

1) Hanil Visitors Center & Guest House | BCHO Architects

© Yong Gwan Kim

The primary purpose of this project was to educate visitors about the future of recyclable materials in architecture. It is one brilliant example of the adaptive use of materials for building as it focuses on recycling the most popular material in the world: concrete. The project exhibits framework types and recycled concrete recasting techniques. The visitor’s center has display windows that allow visitors to look at the process of recycling concrete in the factory.
Hanil Visitors Center is where recyclable materials and architecture are brought closer to the people, allowing them to behold the wonders of eco-friendly architecture. This project encapsulates the breathtaking nature of recyclable materials within a building made out of recycling materials itself. It shows how the deconstruction of one thing means the rebirth of another.

2) Cook Park Amenities l Fox Johnston

© Brett Boardman

The initiative is an essential aspect of Rockdale Council’s efforts to revitalize Cook Park Beach. Cook Park Amenities by Fox Johnston is one example of architectural design using recycled materials. The building is clad with reused and recyclable materials from the surrounding area. The primary two recyclable materials in this building are timber and bricks. The roof’s design collects rainwater from the ceilings to feed the basins, showers, and toilets.

3) SOS Children’s Villages Lavezzorio Community Center | Studio Gang

© Hedrich Blessing

SOS Community Center is a project by SOS, an international non-profit organization that aims at helping foster families and reuniting siblings. Studio Gang took control of constructing the community center to provide learning opportunities for foster care families and families living in the surrounding neighborhood. Studio Gang pulled off this design using recyclable materials such as concrete collected from different construction sites around Chicago. They worked with a tight budget that pushed them to use their materials wisely.

4) Earthship Brighton | Michael Reynolds

© Earthship Biotecture / Tagma

These Earthships designed by Michael Reynolds are hailed as passive solar earth shelters made out of earth-packed tires and other recyclable materials. These Earthships come with minimal reliance on fossil fuels and public utilities, designed to use natural resources such as energy from the sun and collecting and reusing rainwater.
The Earthships not only use rainwater to sustain the residents’ needs but also several filtration systems to reuse water over and over. The second level of using water recycled from rain, snow, and condensation is greywater, which has been used at least once. Then there is black water, which comes from filtered greywater after use, which may be used to water nonedible plants.

5) Coshocton Ray Trace Installation / Behin Ha

© Brad Feinknopf

Behin Ha Design Studio used salvaged materials to produce an atmospheric and welcoming configuration at an open-air playground in the United States. Visitors could walk inside and sit on an area created by strips of leftover fabric from a neighboring factory anchored to the ground and looped around an existing metal balcony. After the public show ended, the cloth was returned to the mill for recycling.

6) Vegan House | Block Architects

© Quang Tran

Window shutters of the Vegan House are made from recyclable materials. This is part of the building’s sustainability mission. The façade of the structure, the internal dividers, and the doors all use shutters, which come in various colors and have multiple applications.

© Quang Tran

© Quang Tran

© Quang Tran

7) Shed No. 8841  |  Ben Lepley & Ed Henry

© Tectonicus

Ben Lepley designed this project for his parents, consisting of a storage shed and a water house. The entire cladding of the building consists of recycled wood and steel providing, fashioned in a louvered style, and the cladding provides the structure with ventilation.

8) Bima Microlibrary | SHAU Bandung

© Sanrok Studio

SHAU Bandung used recycled plastic ice cream containers to clad the Bima Microlibrary and send two messages to the onlooker. The first message is that sustainability and architecture are perfect companions, and the future is durable and eco-friendly. The other message is a message that’s delivered in Morse code that states, “books are the windows to the world.” These recycled plastic containers also serve as mini-windows that absorb daylight and provide the library with soft lighting throughout the day.

9) Backyard Cabin | Emerging Objects

© Matthew Millman

This backyard cabin is made of recycled industrial and agricultural waste products. The ceramic tiles that clad the building are made using salt, cement, sawdust, grape skins, and several other recyclable materials that are pressed together to produce these tiles.

10) Carroll House | LOT-EK

© Danny Bright

The Carroll House is designed using recycled shipping containers. These containers were stacked and cut diagonally, creating a single-family residence. This is just one of several architectural designs that recycle shipping containers to create cubic, intricate designs.

Also Read: 11 Amazing Shipping Container Houses That Take the Trend to the Next Level.