Eight Interiors Transformed with Reclaimed Materials for Sustainable Design

Dezeen’s latest lookbook showcases eight interiors that creatively reuse reclaimed materials to lower costs and environmental impact. These projects deliver distinctive aesthetics and include a budget Barcelona apartment, a Kerala home built with local waste, a Madrid showroom, and a London office.

Each project minimizes demolition by reusing site materials and second-hand finds. The following examples highlight design strategies, reclaimed materials, and sustainability gains.

Edinburgh: La Casita by Juli Bolaños‑Durman — bespoke timber elements from waste

In this artist’s flat, timber offcuts are transformed into bespoke architectural features, including a unique kitchen. Artful joinery and on-site material sourcing add warmth and personality without new resources.

Materials & Methods

• Reused and offcut timber as the primary material for built-in elements and furniture.
• Custom joinery integrates waste wood with a tactile finish.
• Local sourcing reduces transport and supports a circular workflow.

Madrid: Sancal showroom — repurposed floor plate undersides as wall panels

This showroom remodel uses the aluminium undersides of old floor plates as wall panels. Modular components are kept to minimize demolition and waste.

Materials & Methods

• Aluminium undersides repurposed as wall cladding that adds a metallic texture.
• Modular components retained to reduce waste and simplify future changes.
• Selective demolition guided by what could be re-used, lowering embodied energy.

London: Salt studio — second-hand, not contract furniture

THIS Studio’s design for Salt assembles pieces sourced from eBay and leftover materials instead of using new contract furniture. Cork remnants and steel surfaces, edged in oak, create a budget-conscious workspace with a strong material identity.

Materials & Methods

• Second-hand surfaces and salvaged materials foreground sustainability.
• Cork leftovers and oak edging provide warm contrast to steel elements.
• Low-cost procurement strategies demonstrate scalable reuse in commercial interiors.

Ghent: Jam Hotel — a former barracks transformed with local craft

A former military barracks becomes Jam Hotel Ghent through collaborations with local artisans. Old roof timber is repurposed for the bar floor, weaving history into the design.

Materials & Methods

• Found materials repurposed into furniture and fittings, reducing waste.
• Old roof timber used structurally and aesthetically as a narrative material.
• Local craftsmanship strengthens the project’s cultural and environmental footprint.

Kerala: Wendy House by Earthscape Studio — waste, earth, and built‑in furniture

The Wendy House integrates recycled rods, broken tiles, site earth, waste wood, and reclaimed metal to form built‑in furniture frames. Local waste streams are transformed into functional architecture with minimal new material inputs.

Materials & Methods

• Recycled rods and broken tiles used as both texture and structure.
• Site earth and reclaimed metal contribute to a low‑embodied‑energy build.
• Built‑in furniture frames maximize utility and reduce off‑site waste.

Barcelona: 10K House — renovation on a €10,000 material budget

10K House uses recycled table legs to elevate interior volumes and conceal services. Nested room planning improves insulation and spatial efficiency.

Materials & Methods

• Recycled table legs repurpose existing components as architectural elements.
• Nested room planning enhances insulation and reduces energy use.
• Modest budgets drive creative solutions that maximize perceived value.

Düsseldorf: Urselmann Interior — a laboratory for biodegradable, recycled, and upcycled construction

Urselmann Interior’s studio experiments with glueless joinery, cellulose wall cladding, and salvaged flooring. These methods prototype sustainable construction and showcase the performance of upcycled materials.

Materials & Methods

• Glueless joinery reduces fasteners and waste while enabling repairability.
• Cellulose cladding provides a low‑impact, breathable finish.
• Salvaged flooring demonstrates long‑life performance with circular reuse as a goal.

London: Traid store furniture — unsellable clothing repurposed into interiors

James Shaw reimagines Traid’s store furniture by shredding unsellable second‑hand clothes and bonding the fibers with a plant‑based binder. This creates lightweight pendant lights and fabric‑based furnishings that reflect the brand’s circular ethos.

Materials & Methods

• Textile waste transformed into functional lighting and furniture components.
• Plant‑based binder offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic adhesives.
• Design demonstrates how fashion and interior design can align in sustainability practice.

These eight interiors share a common goal: rethinking material life cycles. This includes sourcing, processing, assembly, and maintenance.

By making these changes, cost and environmental impact can be reduced. Each project delivers unique, location‑specific aesthetics.

Architecture and engineering practitioners can use these case studies as practical guides. They prioritize reclaimed materials and maximize modularity.

Non‑traditionally sourced components are embraced. Collaboration with local craftspeople is encouraged.

 
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