recycled paper waste turns into a living spatial installation

Papercrete Structure Defines a Porous Installation by Raza Zahid

Morphosis by Raza Zahid is an experimental installation that transforms discarded paper into a living spatial system. Developed through research into paper waste and the cultivation of microgreens on paper substrates, the project explores how growth, decay and material reuse can coexist within an architectural framework.

The installation occupies a 5 × 5 × 5 meter volume defined by slender powder-coated metal frames, each supporting clusters of hand-formed papercrete branches. Drawing from traditional paper-mâché techniques, shredded paper is reconstituted into a structural medium capable of maintaining form, texture, and the capacity to host plant growth. Collectively, these panels create a porous spatial envelope that reconstructs the visual and structural memory of a tree. Each component is unique, shaped by hand and marked by material traces, producing variation in density, light, and shadow throughout the volume.

Spatial conditions within the installation vary as one moves through it: passages shift between compression and openness, light filters through uneven surfaces, and shadows interact dynamically across the structure. The resulting environment occupies a space between interior and exterior, evoking the scale and texture of a grove within an industrial setting.

light and shadow weave a quiet maze on the floor | all images courtesy of Raza Zahid

Biological Processes and Craft Activate a Living Material System

Morphosis incorporates a temporal dimension by cultivating microgreens directly on the papercrete surfaces. The growth and eventual decay of vegetation introduce cyclical changes, making the installation responsive to time and biological processes. Surface becomes landscape, and structure functions as a host for life.

The project by designer Raza Zahid also engages with craft and fabrication. It involves intensive manual processes and the training of makers to understand the behaviour of papercrete, bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary experimental practices. This integration of material innovation, ecological processes, and handcrafted production situates Morphosis as both a spatial experiment and a living demonstration of sustainable, material-conscious design.

By combining recycled materials, biologically active surfaces, and modular construction, the installation introduces organic complexity and softness into a rigid industrial environment, creating a spatial condition that recalls ecological systems within urban and manufactured contexts.

enclosed by paper branches

branches gather in unique compositions, creating shifting layers of opacity

through the lattice of paper branches

greenery begins to envelop the structure

every assemblage of branches and greenery is unique

a tall narrow entrance heightens both verticality and intimacy

a vertical of branches rising 5 meters

exploring the panel joinery system

successful growth of greenery on the first panel

microgreens taking root on papercrete

project info:

name: Morphosis
designer: Raza Zahid | @razazahid

dimensions: (L) 5 m X (W) 5 m X (H) 5m

materials: Recycled Paper, Metal, Adhesive/Binder, Microgreens

collaborator: Areeba Imran

commissioned by: Institute of Architects, Pakistan for the IAPEX 25

exhibition: Expo Center, Lahore, Pakistan

sponsored by: Architects World

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom