New Zealand-based artist Louise McRae works with pieces of discarded wood that are hand-split into small fragments and then carefully reassembled into intricate wall sculptures.
Source: Explosive Scrap Timber Assemblages by Louise McRae | Colossal
Throwback Post: Our Crafty Home | Wood Shingle Christmas Tree
We were rummaging through when we saw a bundle of wooden shingles left over from when we had the house painted a few years ago. Immediately, Alberto said “Christmas tree!” and just as quickly, I said “Of course!” (Don’t try to figure out how we do this, it just is…)
Throwback Post: Lobster pot Christmas tree a new tradition in Salvage – Newfoundland & Labrador – CBC News
The lobster pot tree is decorated with lights, evergreen branches, bows and wooden buoys.
via Lobster pot Christmas tree a new tradition in Salvage – Newfoundland & Labrador – CBC News.
Harvard’s HouseZero project wants to revolutionize green building – Curbed
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The HouseZero project at Harvard retrofitted a pre-war home on campus, creating a model of energy efficiency. Michael Grimm
“We’re shattering the belief that you need to build new buildings to be efficient,” Ali Malkawi, a professor of architectural technology who leads the CGBC program, told Curbed. “We want to show how this can be replicated almost anywhere, and solve one of the world’s biggest energy problems, inefficient existing buildings.”
Source: Harvard’s HouseZero project wants to revolutionize green building – Curbed
The wonderfully eclectic world of a designer known as… the Salvage Queen
Sera Hersham-Loftus
It’s the place where the rich and famous come for interiors inspiration. She likes to keep tight-lipped about her high-profile clientele, but Kate Moss, Yoko Ono and Lizzie Jagger are fans.
Source: The wonderfully eclectic world of a designer known as… the Salvage Queen
BOSS Magazine | Seven Impressive Homes Built with Recycled Materials
The Collage House — Mumbai, India
Visionary architects have met the challenge of green construction with flair and ingenuity, creating unique works of art that shirk the status quo. The results of their creativity are often beautiful.
Source: BOSS Magazine | Seven Impressive Homes Built with Recycled Materials
Historic Tacoma Elks Lodge will reopen as a McMenamins complex in April – Curbed Seattle
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Kathleen Nyberg/Courtesy of McMenamins
Opening in April as McMenamins Elks Temple, the historic building will become a 45-room hotel, a 700-capacity music venue, a game room, three restaurants, a brewery, and several small bars—including one hidden below the sidewalk. One cafe will have outdoor space along historic Tacoma plaza the Spanish Steps.
Source: Historic Tacoma Elks Lodge will reopen as a McMenamins complex in April – Curbed Seattle
The richer the neighbourhood, the more homes are empty, Vancouver tax report finds | Georgia Straight Vancouver’s News & Entertainment Weekly
CITY OF VANCOUVER
“The Empty Homes Tax (also known as the Vacancy Tax) was developed to help relieve pressure on Vancouver’s rental housing market, by returning empty or under-utilized properties to the long-term rental market,” the release reads. “Revenue generated by the tax is required to be used for affordable housing initiatives in Vancouver.”
Starting This Friday Crackedpots Holiday Shop at Lloyd Center Mall – Portland, Oregon
Starting this Friday!
November 30th at 10:00 a.m.
Crackedpots Holiday Shop encourages shoppers to reconsider the disposable nature of the season with thoughtful alternative gifts made from reclaimed materials!
Crackedpots Holiday Shop features fine art and craft by 40 local artists that utilize and upcycle waste materials.
Artwork in a variety of media will be on display and for sale including: metal, textiles, jewelry, assemblage, wood and collage.
Green Project’s Salvations to auction furniture, art made from recycled materials | Entertainment/Life | theadvocate.com
“Fifi’s Seat,” one of the winners form the Salvage Design Competition 2018 held by the Green Project.
The pieces will be auctioned to benefit the Green Project, a group founded in New Orleans in 1994 to “promote a culture of creative reuse by diverting usable materials from landfills and cultivating a respect for their value.”
Good bones are a good place to start for net zero carbon MacKimmie Complex in Calgary | TreeHugger
© DIALOG
Souleles also notes that “the bones of the building are really, really good.” You don’t often hear this; there is always an excuse, such as the floor plate isn’t efficient or the ceilings are too low. However, as embodied carbon gets recognized as an issue, these excuses don’t stand up to scrutiny – because, as we keep saying, the greenest building is the one already standing.
Source: Good bones are a good place to start for net zero carbon MacKimmie Complex in Calgary | TreeHugger
Catch Eater Inside Aria Las Vegas Restaurant – Eater Vegas
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The pergola at Catch Amelinda B Lee
Reclaimed red and white oak flooring from abandoned farms and warehouses in the Eastern United States lines the floor.
Source: Catch Eater Inside Aria Las Vegas Restaurant – Eater Vegas
Forensic Architecture wins the 2018 Beazley Design of the year award – CNN Style
A view of the Forensic Architecture exhibition, which ran in London until May 2018.
“In a field of such diversity and brilliance it is invidious to choose the ‘best’ but Forensic Architecture have invented a new paradigm in the search for the truth. Their application of architectural skills to the re-creation of past events is extraordinarily innovative, intellectually rigorous and will make a significant contribution to justice,” Robert Devereux, one of the judges, said in a statement.
Source: Forensic Architecture wins the 2018 Beazley Design of the year award – CNN Style
15 Most Adorable Prosecco Vans in the UK
A vintage Piaggio Ape turned unique mobile drinks van, The Little Tipple can be hired for special occasions throughout South/West Wales and the Bristol/Gloucester area. It serves everything from Pinot Grigio to craft beer to perfectly chilled Prosecco on tap
Artist of Breckenridge troll says town is allowing him to rebuild it
The large wooden troll, “Isak Heartstone,” made by artist Thomas Dambo during Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts in August, sitting in the snow Wednesday. (Hugh Carey, Summit Daily News via AP)
“The city took him gently apart, and once the snow melts, I will be back to rebuild him in a new location,” he wrote.
Source: Artist of Breckenridge troll says town is allowing him to rebuild it
Symes Road Destructor transformed into a brewing ‘jewel’ – constructconnect.com
STEVEN EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY — Junction Craft Brewing is now housed in a renovated industrial building in the Stockyards district of Toronto’s west end. The company’s 1,358-square-metre facility at 150 Symes Road contains a brewery, taproom, retail space and office space. The brewery project recently won an adaptive reuse award.
“Their work retained the stunning art deco design and industrial character of the site, while repurposing it for a technically demanding manufacturing system,” said the organization.
Source: Symes Road Destructor transformed into a brewing ‘jewel’ – constructconnect.com
Deconstruction projects aim to give new life to historic building materials | St. Louis Public Radio
Refab crews will dismantle the historic building and preserve its handmade bricks and timbers.
CREDIT LAURA GINN | SLDC
As part of the contract, Refab will disassemble a three-story brick warehouse built in 1884 in the Vandeventer neighborhood.Schwarz said the building was an “excellent candidate” for deconstruction, in part because its brick and timber have survived more than 100 years without being painted.“We were just shocked when we got into it for the first time that it was so well preserved,” he said.
Source: Deconstruction projects aim to give new life to historic building materials | St. Louis Public Radio
Introduction to Domicology – YouTube
For more information on the study of structural abandonment “Domicology,” visit domicology.msu.edu
Domicology: A new way to fight blight before buildings are even constructed
As people abandon homes the effects ripple through the community. AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
We’ve coined the term domicology to describe our study of the life cycles of the built environment. It examines the continuum from the planning, design and construction stages through to the end of use, abandonment and deconstruction or reuse of structures.Domicology recognizes the cyclical nature of the built environment. Ultimately we’re imagining a world where no building has to be demolished. Structures will be designed with the idea that once they reach the end of their usefulness, they can be deconstructed with the valuable components repurposed or recycled.
Source: Domicology: A new way to fight blight before buildings are even constructed
A campaign aims to save the home of the Central Park architect
A campaign is running to save the abandoned home in Staten Island of the Central Park architect. Image: New York Landmark Conservancy
“We recognise the importance of restoring this landmark site so that it can eventually offer programs to New Yorkers and visitors alike,” says the Conservancy.
Source: A campaign aims to save the home of the Central Park architect
Owner of Homestead Princeton Saves Pieces of Hodge Road Home | Town Topics
DOWN TO THE FRONT DOOR: The stately, nine-bedroom home that stood for 96 years on Hodge Road was torn down recently due to damage from a fire, still under investigation, that broke out last July. A local shop was able to salvage some of the interior features. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
“I salvaged some mantels, a couple of doors, and some smaller items throughout the place,” Menapace said last week. “Unfortunately, the demolition happened faster than I would have liked, and there wasn’t a lot that I could have grabbed.”
Source: Owner of Homestead Princeton Saves Pieces of Hodge Road Home | Town Topics
Inside Google’s Playa Vista Offices: Haunted Stairwells, Paper Airplane Pads | Hollywood Reporter
Courtesy of Google
As if that weren’t enough to draw your eyes upward, there are several dozen beautiful wooden “glu-lam” arches that climb the walls, which were built in 1943, when the hangar was originally created (the building was used by Howard Hughes to construct the H4 Hercules, known as the “Spruce Goose,” which famously flew only once for less than a minute).
Source: Inside Google’s Playa Vista Offices: Haunted Stairwells, Paper Airplane Pads | Hollywood Reporter
15 Best Bars in Lisbon – Condé Nast Traveler
One of the highlights at LX Factory, a mixed-use adaptive-reuse complex in an old textile factory, is Rio Maravilha, a cheerful, colorful bar whose upstairs terrace affords staggering views of the Tagus River. Echoing the cool ambience, the cocktails here are creative.
Brooklyn’s Domino Park blends industrial chic with careful pacing – Archpaper.com
The fog bridge connects the entire park. When the mist lifts, visitors can see the East River below. (Daniel Levin)
According to Lisa Switkin, senior principal at JCFO, “Integrating the artifact walk with custom furniture made from reclaimed wood from the Raw Sugar Warehouse creates a unique experience where people come into contact with remnants of the original refinery and have an up-close relationship with those artifacts.”
Source: Brooklyn’s Domino Park blends industrial chic with careful pacing – Archpaper.com
2018 Crackedpots Holiday Shop — crackedpots – Sara Badiali
Crackedpots Holiday Shop encourages shoppers to reconsider the disposable nature of the season with thoughtful alternative gifts made from reclaimed materials.
Crackedpots (crackedpots.org) is a small environmental art nonprofit in whose mission is waste reduction through reuse. This year this humble organization has quietly made a stunning leap forward for the reuse industry, by opening a retail store in a major mall in Portland, Oregon.
The Crackedpots Holiday Shop carries local, handcrafted products that are exclusively made from a minimum of 80% reclaimed materials. Recovered waste materials are transformed into furniture, lighting, fixtures, clothing, accessories, fine art, and craft. Items are made from salvaged metal, glass, textiles, jewelry, assemblage, wood and plastics.
By selling only reclaimed products in a major shopping center for the holidays, Crackedpots is mainstreaming the reuse market by leaps and bounds. The ReTuna Återbruksgalleria mall in Eskilstuna, Sweden is the only other known mall retail outlet pioneering exclusively reclaimed goods.
This unique organization has less than ten employees, working part time. The operating budget is under $100,000. They have three programs, the annual Reuse Art Show, the GLEAN art show, and ReClaim It! salvage store.
This summer’s 19th Annual Reuse Art Show converted over 20 tons of waste into retail products. Since 2014 Cracked Pots has diverted 413,310 pounds from the Metro Central Transfer Station.
By Sara Badiali
There’s A Growing Trend To Repurpose More, Landfill Less When Deconstructing Buildings | WUWM
In September, Habitat for Humanity volunteers “deconstructed” elements of Bradley Center suites.
SUSAN BENCE
“You know there’s salvage in every job. It’s up to us to determine what percentage. That’s what makes people competitive,” Hosier said.
Source: There’s A Growing Trend To Repurpose More, Landfill Less When Deconstructing Buildings | WUWM
Roll Hardy: Painting Portland’s Impermanent, Industrial Beauty . TV | OPB
After years of painting his urban muse, Hardy’s images of Portland have taken on a new meaning as they’ve become a chronicle of a rapidly changing landscape. Artwork Courtesy of Roll Hardy
“It’s been six months since the painting was made and it’s gone,” Hardy said. “Knocked down and excavated. I was thinking about that a lot when I was making that work. Times are changing. The city is changing for sure.” After years of painting his urban muse, Hardy’s images of Portland have taken on a new meaning as they’ve become a chronicle of a rapidly changing landscape.Artwork Courtesy of Roll HardyHardy’s work documents parts of Portland that are slowly disappearing. When he reflects upon that,
Source: Roll Hardy: Painting Portland’s Impermanent, Industrial Beauty . TV | OPB
Historic building at Brooklyn Navy Yard to be restored as modern manufacturing space | 6sqft
Located on Morris Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets, the three-story Building 127 was built to make boat parts for the Navy.
According to the corporation, the building’s ground and second floors, which has loading infrastructure, would be a good fit for a medium-to-large scale manufacturing company. With its super tall, vaulted ceiling, the third floor would be great for a design company looking for a showroom and space for prototyping.
Source: Historic building at Brooklyn Navy Yard to be restored as modern manufacturing space | 6sqft
Surfboard made from 150 aluminum cans and vinyl records for fins wins Vissla ‘Upcycle’ contest – Orange County Register
People look at a board made by Titouan La Droitte from France. It’s made from 150 aluminum cans and foam and wood scraps as recycled surfboards made from wacky materials are on display at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Naude marveled at the choice of the vinyl records for the board’s fins and how the creator, Titouan La Droitte, used a plastic bottle cap for the leash plug. In addition to the 150 aluminum cans, the surfboard maker from France also used split pallet wood to create the winning board.
Vissla’s 2018 Upcycle Contest Finalists |SURFER Magazine
Over the past few years, this contest has fueled the creation of some truly inventive designs. Last year, the winner, Taylor Lane, crafted a surfboard made from 10,000 cigarette butts that he collected from the apparently gross shores of the California coastline.
Source: Vissla’s 2018 Upcycle Contest Finalists |SURFER Magazine
Valuing older buildings: Architecture professor’s book argues for reuse rather than wrecking ball | UW News
“I was trained as both an architect and architectural historian,” Merlino says, “and have always been drawn to older buildings and the layered narrative of history they embody.” Her book, “Building Reuse: Sustainability, Preservation, and the Value of Design” was published this year by UW Press.
Before & After: A Derelict Ambulance Station in East Sussex, Reimagined – Remodelista
Above: Inside, a double-sided wood-burning stove stands on a large concrete plinth in the middle of the space, creating a central heat source and focal point. Medieval dwellings were often arranged around a central hearth, and Nowicka sees this is a nod to the far-reaching history of the area.
Original materials were repurposed throughout wherever possible. “The old existing roof was made water-tight, saving all the original tiles, including the moss that was growing on it,” explains Nowicka.
Source: Before & After: A Derelict Ambulance Station in East Sussex, Reimagined – Remodelista
Walt Disney – The Little House – 1952 – YouTube
The salvage man – Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin
Mark Raszewski rescues unclaimed materials from businesses when they close or renovate. Nearly all of the items he sells are from Dane County. PHOTO ERICA KRUG
When local businesses or facilities close or get renovated, Raszewski helps to take places apart (recently Mautz Paint, Marling Lumber, UW-Madison’s Agronomy research lab, and Oscar Mayer), salvaging many unclaimed materials.
Taiwan’s Miniwiz nominated for UK … | Taiwan News
Upcycled housing tiles manufactured by Miniwiz (Image from Miniwiz)
Miniwiz’s plastic upcycling plant called “Trashpresso” was nominated in the “product” category for its repurposing of plastic bottles into housing tiles, using only the power of the sun.
Guitar Maker Crafts Instruments from City’s Past
The wood he uses is white pine, is all reclaimed from buildings around the city — some famous, like the Chelsea Hotel, legendary speakeasy Chumley’s, even McSorley’s Bar. Kelly gets most of it for free. He calls the wood, the bones of old New York.”It came from those 300-year-old giant trees and now it’s been indoors for 160, 170 years, so it’s super dry and really resonant and makes a great guitar.”
The Bizarre Houseboats of Britain – YouTube
Bluetooth Tire Speaker | Recycled Tire Tube Bag | SEAL – SEAL Brand International
Every speaker is one and only. Using used tire or scrapped B-class tire, every speaker is unique and delivering you a clear and well-Balanced sound experience. Use Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to stream music directly to your SEAL Tire Speaker with no wires attached.
Source: Bluetooth Tire Speaker | Recycled Tire Tube Bag | SEAL – SEAL Brand International
Recycled construction waste: building a more sustainable future
Photo credits: Jenny Marvin
To add momentum to this process, in 2016 the European Commission published a CDW Management Protocol, whose goal is to improve waste identification, source separation and collection, and waste processing. From the industry perspective, it is essential to make sure that there are no hazardous substances in material recovered from a demolition site – such as asbestos, leaded paint and polychlorinated biphenyls – that may affect health, environmental or building quality standards.
Source: Recycled construction waste: building a more sustainable future
Grand Designs NZ: The recycled home made from Real Groovy and an old Wellington wharf – NZ Herald
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The Mangawhai home is almost entirely made from historic recycled materials. Photo / screenshot
NZ Herald
The centrepiece of the build was bringing nine enormous trusses made from the timber salvaged from Wellington’s Ferry Wharf, which was built in 1894.
Source: Grand Designs NZ: The recycled home made from Real Groovy and an old Wellington wharf – NZ Herald
Wood in Classrooms: The Secret to Better Grades? | TerraMai
Bringing nature and natural analogues like reclaimed wood into the learning environment makes the classroom more conducive to learning, which results in more productive students and teachers.
Source: Wood in Classrooms: The Secret to Better Grades? | TerraMai
Adaptive reuse project turns warehouse into an industrial-chic home | Inhabitat
All of the renovated buildings retain parts of the original construction. In 102 The Mill, these deliberately exposed frameworks are complemented by industrial-inspired lighting fixtures and minimalist, streamlined furnishings. Timber floors and warm fabrics help imbue the former factory with a sense of cozy warmth.
Bradley Cooper celebrates ‘A Star is Born’ with new townhouse
The home’s wooden floors are made from reclaimed barn floors, giving the space a farmhouse vibe.
Source: Bradley Cooper celebrates ‘A Star is Born’ with new townhouse
Would you live on this Swedish bridge? – The Spaces
Credit: Urban Nouveau
Practice Urban Nouveau has devised a radical way to save Stockholm’s Gamla Lidingöbron bridge from demolition: turning it into apartments and a linear park.
Piece by piece, deconstructed Merc found new uses across Misssoula ~ Missoula Current
Katie Deuel, executive director of Home ReSource in Missoula, said thousands of items from the old Mercantile found their way into homes, schools and offices across the city. (Martin Kidston/Missoula Current)
“One woman had a table made for her husband,” Deuel said. “He had worked at the Merc for 35 years, so she really wanted that. There’s some great human interest stories in there. People recognized the value of it as material that came locally from our ecosystem and stayed in the community.”
Source: Piece by piece, deconstructed Merc found new uses across Misssoula ~ Missoula Current
5 buildings at Fort Vancouver National Site to be demolished | The Columbian
A sign welcomes visitors to Fort Vancouver National Site as a historical warehouse building, skinny building in background, is seen nearby Thursday morning. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
“As a woman- and Native American-owned small business, RJS Construction, Inc., is beyond excited to be a part of a project that is focused on respect for history and consideration for the environment,” Chris Boring of RJS Construction said in a news release about the demolition. “We look forward to partnering with the National Park Service and Fort Vancouver as they move forward with the removal of buildings and salvage of historic wood.”
Source: 5 buildings at Fort Vancouver National Site to be demolished | The Columbian
Vancouver-based Unbuilders aims to transform how homes are demolished | Daily Hive Vancouver
Unbuildersconstruction/Instagram
Unbuilders is quickly becoming Canada’s deconstruction industry leader.Over the past year, Unbuilders has saved over 100,000 board feet of lumber and 250 tonnes of garbage from being thrown in landfills.In the most recent unbuild, just 3% of materials from an entire house ended up in the landfill.
Source: Vancouver-based Unbuilders aims to transform how homes are demolished | Daily Hive Vancouver
How to upcycle a vanity unit – Upcycled vanity unit – Upcycle ideas
The first rule of thumb is to choose something solid and sturdy to support the weight of the basin – remember that it’ll be much heavier once it’s filled with water.
Source: How to upcycle a vanity unit – Upcycled vanity unit – Upcycle ideas
ENR California Best Projects 2018 Renovation/Restoration: Alcatraz Photo Studio | 2018-10-02 | Engineering News-Record
The Alcatraz Photography Studio in Berkeley, Calif., transformed a century-old box of a building used as a Halloween costume store into an artistic space. PHOTO Billy Hustace Photography
The project team was encouraged by the client and designers to reuse and expose original building materials. The team preserved the wooden floor covered with colorful paint drips, giving the space a unique character. This sustainable approach was noticed by the judges, who appreciated the “simplicity, beauty and attention to detail” of the small project, noting that such renovation and adaptive reuse “could be considered a lost art.”
STUDIO Hehku Art and wall light made from Napa Wine Barrels by Winecountry Craftsman| on Etsy
Art and wall light made from reclaimed Napa wine barrels
In our continuing effort to be environmentally conscious and recycle (and also make more awesome projects), we came up with this fun filled idea to reuse wine barrel rings in a unique way.