NTS: Wonderful Waste - Aussie Architects Turning Waste Into Furniture & homes

Summary

Five Mile Radius is an innovative architecture practice focused on sustainable design by repurposing local and waste materials. Drawing inspiration from global travels and local philosophies, the team champions the use of materials within a 5-mile radius to reduce environmental impact and support local economies. Their approach emphasizes circular design, transforming discarded concrete, timber, and other materials into functional, long-lasting products like terrazzo furniture and telegraph pole stools. By challenging traditional building practices and promoting responsible sourcing, they aim to inspire a broader movement in the architectural community toward sustainability and material consciousness.

Takeaways

• 😀 The construction industry generates significant waste, with materials like timber, concrete, and tiles often going to landfills.
• 😀 Raising awareness about the origin and sustainability of materials is key to changing construction practices.
• 😀 'Five Mile Radius' is a design collective focused on using local, sustainable materials to create buildings that are culturally and environmentally significant.
• 😀 The philosophy of 'Five Mile Radius' was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's idea of sourcing materials from within a five-mile radius, promoting local and environmentally-conscious practices.
• 😀 The practice started as a library of local building materials and techniques, particularly influenced by the architect B.V. Doshi in India.
• 😀 Concrete is a major contributor to global emissions, but the practice aims to reduce waste by recycling leftover concrete from job sites into terrazzo furniture.
• 😀 Reusing materials like timber from decommissioned telegraph poles helps preserve carbon and prevents waste, as these materials often have a long lifespan if properly treated.
• 😀 The team creatively designs furniture and products from materials that would otherwise be discarded, such as using waste concrete and steel scraps for furniture legs.
• 😀 The design process focuses on minimizing material waste, with the goal of creating long-lasting, reusable objects, such as stools made from repurposed timber logs.
• 😀 Designers need to consider the entire lifecycle of materials, including their sourcing, longevity, and disposal, to create more sustainable built environments.

Q & A

What is the philosophy behind Five Mile Radius's approach to architecture?

Five Mile Radius emphasizes using sustainable, locally sourced materials and reusing construction waste. They believe materials have stories and hold cultural significance, and they aim to design buildings that are born from their place, using materials within a five-mile radius of the project site.

How did the Five Mile Radius practice get started?

Five Mile Radius started as a collective group of young architects in Brisbane who were interested in combining making and designing. It began in a shed as a space to experiment with sustainable, local materials, and was initially shared on Instagram to invite others to join the movement.

What is the significance of the 'Five Mile Radius' name?

The name 'Five Mile Radius' refers to the philosophy inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of using materials from within a five-mile radius of a site. This approach supports local environments and encourages architecture that reflects its region, both culturally and sustainably.

Why is sustainability important to Five Mile Radius?

Sustainability is crucial because construction materials, like concrete, contribute significantly to global emissions. By reusing materials and focusing on local sourcing, the practice aims to minimize environmental impact, reduce waste, and promote a circular economy.

How does Five Mile Radius recycle concrete?

Five Mile Radius recycles concrete by sourcing leftover wet concrete from job sites, polishing it into terrazzo, and turning it into furniture. This process prevents the concrete from ending up in landfills, giving it a second life with minimal environmental impact.

What is 'Waste Terrazzo,' and how is it made?

'Waste Terrazzo' is a material created by combining recycled concrete with other construction waste like bricks, glass, and ceramic tiles. This mixture is polished to create a terrazzo surface, ensuring that valuable materials that would otherwise go to waste are repurposed into high-quality products.

How does Five Mile Radius make use of decommissioned telegraph poles?

Five Mile Radius reuses decommissioned timber telegraph poles, which are often discarded due to water damage. They treat the wood to extend its lifespan, creating furniture pieces like stools. This reuse helps preserve the carbon stored in the timber and reduces waste.

What is 'Shou Sugi Ban,' and why does Five Mile Radius use it?

Shou Sugi Ban is a Japanese technique of charring the surface of wood to preserve it and add durability. Five Mile Radius uses this method to enhance the lifespan and appearance of recycled timber, such as the telegraph poles, giving each piece a unique finish.

What challenges does Five Mile Radius face in the construction industry?

One major challenge is the lack of widespread infrastructure and knowledge for recycling and reusing construction materials in Australia. Additionally, there are stringent construction codes that make it difficult to implement fully sustainable practices, as there are limited supplies of recyclable materials.

How does Five Mile Radius influence other designers?

Five Mile Radius encourages other designers to engage with materials more consciously, especially by sourcing local and waste materials. They advocate for designers to think about the full lifecycle of materials, from sourcing to disposal, and to design with sustainability in mind.