Not Wasted: Relief
How can technology turn material waste into solutions for the planet’s biggest challenges?
That’s what international design studio Hassell, in partnership with to.org and 3D printing pioneers Nagami, is exploring with their off-grid 3D printed pavilion.
Made from recycled PETG plastic sourced from medical waste, this pavilion is part of a broader effort to reshape how we perceive plastic waste while defining a new approach to construction, where discarded materials are reimagined as building blocks for the future.
“As 3D printing scales up into the domain of architecture and construction, we can massively increase the demand for recycled plastics, and therefore speed up the cleaning process of our oceans and landfills,” explains Manuel Jimenez Garcia, founder of Nagami. What makes this pavilion stand out isn’t just the use of recycled materials – it’s the tech behind it. 3D printing offers unparalleled design flexibility, allowing architects to create complex structures with minimal waste and energy use.
But it’s not just about tech – the pavilion is designed to adapt. Inspired by Indigenous shelters like the Inuit’s qarmaq, single-room dwellings designed for harsh climates, this structure is built to function in a range of environments.
The pavilion’s climate-responsive design adjusts to local conditions –fins on the outer shell trap snow for insulation in colder areas, while in hotter climates they overlap to create shade and encourage passive cooling, ventilation and water harvesting. It also has strategically placed openings and a huge skylight to bring in natural light and ventilation, enhancing the pavilion’s connection to its environment. All this makes it highly efficient in extreme environments, demonstrating how sustainable architecture can adapt to and complement nature.
Built from 24 modular parts, the pavilion is easy to assemble, disassemble and relocate. Beyond just a gathering space, its mobility and scalability open possibilities for reimagining the very future of construction, where discarded materials can be transformed into something both useful and enduring.
