In Talca, Chile a study called Reciclaciudad led by architect Susana Sepúlveda General seeks to explore the options of what can be done with a city’s enormous amount of reusable trash and how can it be re-activated. The team feels that something must be done about this growing problem in major cities throughout the world and that design could help in providing some solutions since a large percentage of trash that is thrown out is known to be reusable.

The team decided to specifically target cardboard, something that is easily reused and accumulates in ridiculously large amounts throughout the city. The team then created a structure made entirely of this re-purposed cardboard that had been gathered around the city after being thrown out.

With all the cardboard streaming in, the team set about figuring just how to put it to good use in a way that they could then turn around and display as a solution they found to deal with the reuse of cardboard. They found a way to create puzzle-like pieces that could fit together in an indefinately growing pattern but that could also provide some sort of structure. Large size tubes create collumns with which they were able to attach a roof for a sheltered space. Other tubes were used like support beams to give strength to the roof.

It was decided that the structure would be placed in an open area where there was no need for maintenance, shaded areas were needed and the most benefit could be provided by this new built addition. It was also going to be used as a public installation to help educate and inspire people to ask questions and think more creatively about the world around them and the things they traditionally consider as trash.

images via Héctor Labarca Rocco