Re-Use

In architecture, practices in the contemporary reuse of building materials are becoming commonplace. Recent buzzwords like ‘upcycling’ and ‘circular economy’ have made their way into the culture of space making and construction; this phenomenon is all the more pertinent given that we are constantly confronted with sustainability issues. 3RW arkitekter recognises challenges linked to the changing climate and resource crises, and often turn to reuse as a design strategy to face these environmental challenges.

At the office, we work to ensure that material waste is minimised, and that materials are repurposed to the furthest extent. We also focus on designing buildings with deconstruction in mind. Architectural reuse remains a labour and cost intensive activity; complex deconstruction logistics and the relative cheapness of resources remain obstacles to the good implementation of reuse principles. In this context, 3RW architects and planners aspire to create strong, persuasive concepts where energy and resource usage are optimized.

Our creative skills are coupled with a critical application of circular economy. In projects like the ‘Bergen Inkluderingssenter’ in Landås, existing material qualities are carefully identified and preserved, and matched with contemporary colours and textures. The architectural qualities which result from this reuse approach show the aesthetic, economic, ecological and historical advantages which relate to repurposing materials. From buildings’ demolition to reintegration, 3RW arkitekter works to re-imagine sustainable and collaborative ways of making space.

Reuse is a driving principle in projects of varying scales. Smaller interventions represent interesting opportunities to test out inventories and new assemblies of existing materials: the re-purposing of centuries-old timber logs from a nearby farm at the Flydalsjuvet rest stop is an example of this kind of small interventions. Craft, technology and architectural innovation combine in a past-meets-future composition of aged wood and contemporary glass. With its evocative surfaces and tectonics, the Flydalsjuvet project nicely illustrates the potential of reclaiming aged, ‘imperfect’ materials.