This Leafy-Green Bangalore Home Is Made From Construction Debris

Collective Project builds a verdant residence with bricks handcrafted out of rubble from the site.

In Bangalore, and across India, rampant growth has led to a boom in new construction, especially for housing. When a young couple approached local firm Collective Project to build a new home in the city’s residential sector, designers Eliza Higgins and Cyrus Patell wondered if they could use the project to address the abundant waste that often accompanies new construction. 

Collective Project designed a three-story home in Bangalore, India, that is fashioned from blocks made of debris from the previous structure on-site.  Lush vegetation—including mango, avocado, and citrus trees—helps the home recede into the background.

Photo: Ben Hosking

Typically, building new in Bangalore involves demolishing old buildings, and disposing of ever more construction debris is a growing concern in the city. "There was an original house on the site, but we quickly realized there was nothing we could do with the existing home to work with the clients’ brief," explains Collective Project designer Eliza Higgins. "We wondered, ‘if we’re not going to use the existing building, can we reuse the material? What if we look at this not as debris and waste, but actually as a resource?’"

Extensive glazing connects the interior spaces to greenery, even though the house is located in a densely populated area of Bangalore. On the ground level, granite floors anchor exposed concrete walls. The dining table and chairs are by Phantom Hands.

Photo: Ben Hosking

The firm collaborated with a retired scientist from the Indian Institute of Science who studied earth construction to devise a mixture of lime, soil, cement, and construction debris from the existing building, which was then cast into blocks. After testing to ensure the blocks’ structural capability, Higgins and Patell decided to use the blocks as the primary construction material for the new three-story home. "We wanted to be as responsible as possible in designing this house," explains Higgins. "As a practice, we’re interested in using local and traditional technologies, but in a very contemporary way."

The home’s three levels are framed by large planters containing fruit trees and other vegetation. The custom blocks make up all of the home’s exterior walls.

Photo: Ben Hosking

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Leafy-Green Bangalore Home Is Made From Construction Debris
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