Unusual Materials

When it comes to construction, almost anything goes. Throughout the years many people have moved into a more sustainable way of living. Some innovative architects have begun using recycled material such as styrofoam, ice, tires, etc, to create more environmentally friendly habitats. Recycled glass bottles are one particular unusual building material, which have been used a number of times in building forms.

One popular building form, which used recycled glass bottles was Edouard Arsenaults Bottle Houses of Prince Edward Island, which created a must-see tourist attraction situated in Cap-Egmont, Prince Edward Island, Canada. In the summer of 1979, Edouard started collecting bottles from his community. He then spent the winter in the basement cleaning the bottles and dreaming of his project. At the age of 66, he began his construction. “He was able to cleverly cement over 25,000 bottles in various shapes, sizes and colors, into three fantasy-like building” (bottlehouses.com). Unfortunately, the Canada winters are not very gentle, and the houses did not survive the effects of bad winter frosts. “Over the years, the buildings deteriorated to the point that they had to be rebuilt” (bottlehouses.com).

In the 21^st century, Heineken factories decided to make their products eco friendly after the owner saw beaches littered with bottles. The design of the beer bottles was “a brick that holds beer, known as Heineken WOBO(world bottle)” (inhabitat.com). The bottle was designed to be interlocking, laid horizontally and bonded with cement mortar.  The bottle was ahead of its eco design time. “It let beer lovers, and builders alike drink, and design all in one sitting” (inhabitat.com).

            Perhaps more of an environmental expression today than an act of necessity, glass bottles have been found to make excellent building materials if properly spaced, stacked, and set for stability. They are a plentiful resource, hold their color well over time, provide great indoor lighting, and are generally easy to clean. When combined with a binding material such as cement, they prove to be a stable building blocks as well. As the years go on, more and more people create astonishing designs using the most surprising materials. It is fascinating to see these unusual material buildings and its only certain that in the future we will see even more unusual materials being used.

References

Maison, E. (n.d.). The Bottle House of Prince Edward Island. The Bottle House of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved October 23, 2012, from http://www.bottlehouses.com/

Kriscenski, A. (n.d.). HEINEKEN WOBO: A Beer Bottle That Doubles as a Brick | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building. Inhabitat | Design For a Better World!. Retrieved October 23, 2012, from http://inhabitat.com/heineken-wobo-the-brick-that-holds-beer/