Social prerequisites for development of architecture from recycled materials /REchitecture/

As an integral part of the development of the societies, the architecture reflects their situation of a period. In different studies we draw on knowledge from the preserved specimens of architectural art and from them we make conclusions about the social, economic and cultural development of civilizations. Thus, looking from a similar but slightly different angle, we establish connection between the history and the development of modern architecture and the generated waste from the society.

By the 19th century the majority of generated waste were of organic origin. Handmade objects determine the need for re-use – on the one hand their cost and on the other the symbolism of some of the belongings for their owners. Since that time, there are many examples of furniture of the poorer classes made ​​from barrels and wooden crates covered with old blankets and sheets for upholstery.

This tendency changes after the industrial revolution and urbanization. The products suddenly diminish their value and mind their mass production the skill to repair something broken is no longer needed, because there is a possibility to buy something newer and more modern. The commenced construction of apartment buildings in major cities, also contributes to this effect. The storage spaces become smaller, which leads to inability to keep different "things" kind of unnecessary but in good condition, that after changing their original function would have logged back into use.

To afford yourself to throw away just because you can buy something new is an expression of supremedis play of wealth. Through this feature a strong social division of people is outlined: between those who can afford to throw and those to whom to discard is a sort of value.

Similar division, but in different proportions we can find in a global scale between so called developed and developing countries. Source: UNEP (2011)

1. In developing countries the percentage of organic wastes is extremely high. Taking into account also the chronic shortage of raw materials, it shows that the population preserves a big part of the inorganic solid wastes with the purpose of their secondary use with another function, which we call recycling.  The lack of enough buildings on the other hand, forces people to use these “re-materials” in construction:

1.1. In the Brazilian poor districts, very often the buildings are so close to one another, that there is no place for windows and even in daytime they need additional lightening. Due to high price of electricity, they could not use such lightening. Engineer Alfredo Mozer reaches an incredibly simple solution to the problem. In transparent plastic bottles he pours a solution of water and small amount of bleach, then hangs the bottle from the roof so that a small part of the throat peeps above. So made this plastic "bulb" has about 60W power and lights easy and free the homes.

1.2. Another example again in Brazil and again in plastic bottles is for the production of panels for water heating through greenhouse effect, which is created in bottles when heated. Such systems, however, on the principle of the heat exchanger are successfully applied in the U.S. for conditioning in rooms.

1.3. After the devastating disaster in Haiti a great shortage of medical care is felt. The NGO "Containers 2 clinics" sets up a mobile clinic consisting of two shipping containers. Open for the first time in October 2010 the mobility of this medical center and its rapid operational work gives a breath of fresh air to the medical services in the country. Projects of this organization grow and thrive and this year it is expected a similar structure in Namibia to be built.

1.4. Even the religion uses recycled materials in its sacred building structures. Situated at about 600 km from Bangkok, Thailand the so called “Temple of the million bottles”. The extravagant idea began in 1984 when the monks began to decorate their shelters with glass bottles. Attracted by by this, tourists began to donate more bottles, causing a snowball effect. The caps also came into use - they are embedded in a complex mosaic.

1.5.We can find the next example for REchitecture in the developing countries in the Palestinian lands next to Jerusalem. Young architects and engineers from the Italian group ARCό undertook the difficult task to build school for the local community. The main chosen material from them is the automobile tire. For the construction of the complex of 350 square meters 2200 numbers of tires were used, whereas the total price reached the negligible82 000€ for the project in year 2009.

These are only some examples from thousands that could be presented for buildings made by necessity, which examples in most cases we are willing to overlook neglect.

2. This is not the case with projects from recycled materials, built in the developed countries.  Here, for their perception by the public contribute two main factors. The first one is the long-lived campaigns for recycling and ecological balance that impose on society more responsible position. Second factor is the intervention of architects and designers in the construction of such buildings. This greatly helps softening the senses and balancing of forms in an otherwise difficult to perceive composition being modeled to provoke.

2.1. The purpose of group of students from Norway is provocation, when they build their small almost cubic 50 square meters pavilion.  It has been entirely built from used doors and windows, a big part of them taken from the nearest office building, which was prepared for demolition.

2.2. The Wing house of Arch. David Hertzwas built from Boing 747-200 and really stands out from the rest.  The house is situated on a hilly plot of 220 acres in Malibu, California. Greatest effect have the roofs of the building, which are actually the wings of the airplane. Not only the wings but almost all parts of the airplane are integrated in a “domestic” way in the house. 

2.3. Interesting decision in the interior design take BRC Design with their binary collection, made from old circuit boards. Very powerful, it is aimed primarily at the computer generation that wishes to have a "connection", even while resting.

2.4. House from containers. The first impression for architecture from shipping containers is closely connected with narrow and long unwelcoming space. The French architect Patrick Partouche fully contradicts this idea. Incorporating 8 containers in a two-story building, he achieved airtime and free interior design decision, which is not supposed by the modularity of the elements.

3. Bulgaria in the context of REchitecture lies midway between the developed and developing countries. The country relatively recently underwent a period of "needful" use of recycled materials in construction (still to find fences from radiators and tires in the countryside). It is associated with a denied regime, which further incites negative reactions to such examples. On the other hand society goes through hits boom of consumerism, leading to almost zero percent recycling (according to EUROSTAT figures). These factors and the lack of legal prerequisites for such construction put REchitecture in Bulgaria on hold. This predisposes to an intensive future development, the seeds are just beginning to sprout.

The examples concerned here show that despite the cultural differences architectural language is common and unifying.

By intervening ,architects must show, that it is possible to do REchitecture, so that it can be smooth and desired perception for the people, who actually face it.