We have designed “Regene Office” using the sustainable method of repurposing the large amount of construction waste generated during the renovation process as materials for the office's interior design.
Renovation of existing buildings is a sustainable way to create new office and residential spaces as it is associated with a significantly smaller environmental impact than the construction of new buildings. However, a large amount of construction waste is generated during the demolition process of any renovation.
Before NOSIGNER's new office space was handed over, we visited the demolition site of our existing office and caught sight of light-gauge steel frames weighing around two tons that had been installed to hold the plasterboard walls in place among the debris.
We were struck by the possibility of repurposing these materials for our interior design and requested the demolition contractor to leave the waste there. If we could renovate the office in a sustainable way through the on-site upcycling of construction waste, we would be able to achieve the least environmentally harmful form of waste disposal.
In view of this, we decided to take on the challenge of designing an office out of construction waste left over from the demolition.
We successfully designed highly unique ceiling louvers by cutting the residual light-gauge steel frames and arranging the segments in a random manner. In addition to housing lighting equipment, these louvers also serve to conceal the extensive wiring and ducts that cannot be shifted elsewhere.
By making the most of construction waste such as light-gauge steel frames, as well as utilizing recycled industrial aluminum foil and SOLIDO tiles created by firing mixtures of waste materials, we were ultimately able to set up an office space rarely seen elsewhere that derives most of the construction materials used for its interior design from waste.
Today, a large quantity of light-gauge steel frames generated at demolition sites is still being disposed of. By repurposing these steel frames as materials for the interior design of our office, we have demonstrated that upcycling construction waste can be an effective design approach to mitigate the impact of construction work on the environment around the world.
We believe that envisioning waste as a resource and imbuing it with a new form of value is a creative activity in itself and a goal that all designs should strive for. Many challenges remain before we can raise the appeal of making the most of waste to the point where it is recognized as part of an attractive lifestyle. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that we are always moving closer to achieving our ultimate goal of creating a sustainable future.