we+ transforms non-recyclable waste into new design materials

 

Seeking to reconstruct our complex relationship with materiality, we+ presents Remains, the next chapter of their ongoing research project Urban Origin. By turning Tokyo into its urban mining field, the project delves into the essence of the human-material connection, seeking to return to its origins. Reviving waste materials and transforming them into new composite materials, the design studio aims to uncover the potential value of waste that is often difficult to recycle and ends up in landfills. Through a process involving milling, mixing, and heating these discarded materials in a kiln, the team harnesses the bonding properties of glass waste as an adhesive to create entirely new substances.

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image by Masayuki Hayashi

 

 

‘remains’: an artistic fusion of modern industrial materials

 

In Japan, the recycling rate of industrial waste is projected to be around 53% in 2020. Yet a substantial volume of residual waste persists – including glass, ceramics, concrete, debris, and composite materials that are challenging to dissolve  and sort due to their intricate structures. This unsorted waste exceeds 9 million tonnes, destined for landfills. However, Tokyo-based studio we+’s approach seeks to rediscover the fundamental connection between humans and materials. As the Remains project unfolds, the potential of these seemingly worthless materials unveils itself, offering an intriguing perspective on the sustainable design possibilities that lie within our grasp. The result is an expression resembling the geological strata of the Anthropocene era — representing a glimpse of what future generations may one day excavate from our landfills, revealing the artistic fusion of materials from our time.

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image by Masayuki Hayashi

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image by Masayuki Hayashi

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image by Masayuki Hayashi

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image by Masayuki Hayashi

 

 

 

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image courtesy of we+

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image courtesy of we+

we+'s urban mining of tokyo landfills revives industrial waste as new composite materials
image courtesy of we+

remains, urban origin
image courtesy of we+

remains, urban origin
image courtesy of we+

remains, urban origin
image courtesy of we+

remains, urban origin
image courtesy of we+

 

 

project info:

 

name: Remains (Urban Origin)
designer: we+

 

 

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: ravail khan | designboom