The Art of Sustainable Design: A Conversation with Second Edition Studio
In the world of architecture and construction, a quiet revolution is taking place, driven by a desire to reduce waste and embrace sustainability. At the forefront of this movement is Second Edition Studio, a Sydney-based practice with a unique approach to material salvage and reuse.
Rethinking Construction Waste
The studio's founders, Shahar Cohen and Amy Seo, have a clear mission: to challenge the notion that construction and demolition waste inevitably ends up in landfills. They believe in the power of design to transform discarded materials into something beautiful and functional. This is not just about being environmentally conscious; it's a creative process that demands innovation and a keen eye for potential.
One of the key challenges they address is the perception that waste sorting and material reuse are time-consuming and complex. In their experience, making it financially viable is a delicate balance. It involves knowing which materials to collect, how to store them efficiently, and documenting everything meticulously. This is where their expertise shines, as they carefully curate a collection of materials with a guaranteed destination, either for resale or integration into their projects.
The Economics of Reuse
Interestingly, Cohen reveals that reclaimed materials can often be cost-neutral compared to buying new when considering supply costs alone. However, the labor cost to process these materials is typically higher, a reality they've learned to accept. Instead of fighting this, they've focused on optimizing other aspects of their business, ensuring they have the resources to dedicate time to the material reuse processes they value.
For clients, the studio provides detailed information about the materials and processes, ensuring a well-informed decision-making process. The goal is to offer solutions that are equal to or less than the cost of new materials, with the latter being the more challenging target. This approach allows for a balanced project budget, where some reuse elements might exceed the cost of new materials, while others make up for it.
Kitchen Renovations: A Case Study
Kitchens, often replaced after a short lifespan, are a significant source of waste in Australian homes. Second Edition has tackled this issue head-on in projects like Offcut Kitchen, Yarranabbe Apartment, and Potts Point Apartment. Seo highlights that the ease of repurposing kitchen components depends on the kitchen's age and structure. Older kitchens without carcass systems, such as timber frames, are more amenable to reuse due to the value of their structure.
The Potts Point Apartment project, for instance, benefited from the client's openness to open shelving, avoiding the labor-intensive task of retrofitting doors. Modern joinery production's efficiency can make matching existing elements challenging. However, the studio has successfully reused carcasses, refinished existing fronts, or created new fronts for dated polyurethane or veneer finishes.
The Challenge of Disassembly and Reuse
One of the most significant obstacles to disassembly and reuse, according to Cohen, is full demolition. Mechanical demolition processes often make manual or slow deconstruction cost-prohibitive. The key to successful salvage in these cases lies in the client's willingness to invest in deconstruction.
A notable example is a house in North Bondi, where the studio, in collaboration with Robert Plumb Build, carefully dismantled roof tiles, timber flooring, and bricks for reuse. This project highlights the importance of relationships with builders who share a commitment to deconstruction, as well as the advantage of working with residential builders managing multiple sites, facilitating the reuse of materials across projects.
Scaling Up: From Prototype to Practice
Second Edition has experimented with innovative techniques, such as creating renders and terrazzo from crushed stone off-cuts. Cohen believes these methods can be scaled beyond prototypes, requiring the right contractor and a precise process to ensure the aggregate's consistency for optimal performance. The challenges lie in finding contractors for crushing and screening, especially for smaller quantities, which currently requires manual on-site screening.
Overstock and Seconds: A Practical Solution
Seo discusses the practicality of working with overstock and seconds materials, which are often well-documented and come from organized suppliers. The quantities are known, and the materials are ready for use. However, each 'second' has its quirks, such as irregular bricks affecting detailing or color variations within a batch. Despite these challenges, the considerations are generally manageable.
Growing Appetite for Reuse
The studio has witnessed a significant increase in the appetite for reuse, despite initial skepticism about financial viability. Unfortunately, they've also seen small, local operators in the reuse space close down, which Cohen finds disheartening.
The remaining resistance, they note, often comes from clients who prefer new materials due to rising construction costs and the desire for certainty and warranties. Reuse becomes financially viable in the mid-range market, where it can offer cost-effective solutions. Builders, initially hesitant due to liability concerns, are generally receptive once they understand the materials.
Collaboration: The Heart of Successful Reuse
Seo emphasizes the importance of collaboration, particularly with builders and their subcontractors. These relationships have led to some of their best reuse ideas, born from a mutual exchange of insights. Engaging in conversations with makers, fabricators, and exploring industrial areas to understand ad hoc production and waste can spark innovative design ideas.
Exploring New Waste Streams
The studio is currently focused on two significant waste streams: papers and plastics, which dominate construction site waste, and metal offcuts. They see the potential for these metal offcuts to be used in small fixtures and fittings, offering a more direct and sustainable solution than the carbon-heavy recycling process.
Advice for Embracing Reuse
Seo's advice for integrating material salvage and reuse is straightforward: engage clients and builders early in the process. It's crucial to communicate the value of reuse, both aesthetically and in the story it tells, ensuring it's not an afterthought. This approach allows for a more seamless integration of reused materials, aligning with the project's vision from the outset.
