If you haven’t heard yet, reuse is the new use. An increasing number of architects and contractors are opting to incorporate second-hand elements over newly produced alternatives. Reclaiming building materials was the norm for centuries because of how resource efficient the practice is. Somewhere along the way, however, this stopped being standard practice in modern societies.

Most, if not all, built structures have at some point required massive amounts of energy, funds, and time. In a world facing climate crisis these resources need to be kept in use, not wasted. We are so excited that taking the time to reuse materials is now receiving wider acceptance amongst the construction industry again. At Arkemi, we have been building our experience and expertise in designing with reused materials through renovation projects. We have worked extensively with material reuse in two recently completed projects.

Terrasstorpet is the renovation and extension of a guest house located on a farm in Skåne. We wanted to be as resource efficient as possible from the beginning and were lucky enough to work with an equally ambitious client. We locally “mined” materials to use in the extension of the guest house and reconfigured the site plan with existing building components.

Arkaden Coworking is the renovation and reuse of an old office space located on the ground floor of the iconic Drakenberg housing estate on Hornsgatan. We adapted the office, originally built in the 1970s, to become more flexible and suitable for long-term use. The project involved the reuse of building elements harvested both on and off site.

To contribute to a wider shift to this practice, we want to share what we’ve learned so far. The following 10 key lessons for architects are especially suitable for smaller studios, like our own, working on projects with a low budget regarding costs and/or manpower.

Key Lessons from the Reuse Process 

1. Start before you think you should start. 

The process of reuse usually begins before the official start of your project. For the renovation of our office, Arkaden, we started mapping material flows a few months before the project began in earnest. We began with taking inventories of furniture inherited from one of our collaborators; pieces that have been with us since the conception of the company and followed up with a second inventory of the office in preparation for the deconstruction process. 

2. Build personal networks. 

A successful reuse project requires buy-in from the various consultants. A like-minded client as was the case in Terrasstorpet or an electrician who sees the value in preserving existing fittings as in Arkaden, help create a conducive environment to challenge wasteful norms in the construction process. Building a network of clients, consultants and suppliers who are ambitious in their environmental work, is an ongoing process for us that transcends individual projects and lies at the very core of how Arkemi functions. 

3. Rethink labour and rethink the process.

The process of reuse is tedious and involves low-skilled labour in all stages and areas from demolition to electrical work. We realised that matching skill-level to appropriate tasks is important in keeping labour costs low. Take the reuse of electrical fittings for example. More low-skilled tasks like cleaning and painting fittings can be accomplished at a reduced cost by workers who are less qualified, leaving the electrician to focus solely on the tasks in which their expertise is essential. It’s also necessary to add extra steps like inventorying, assessing reuse potential, and storing harvested materials to the traditional construction process. 

4. Respect the existing.

Whether it is a run-down barn or an office in ano typology is too “bland” to be considered building heritage. Respecting the existing elements of the space and preserving as much as we can, is often our starting point for projects. We try our best to only adapt and add elements where absolutely needed. In Arkaden for instance, it was important for us to uncover the potential in existing elements that may seem outdated e.g., in-built ducting for telephone lines. 

5. Design for flexibility and the long run.

Renovating spaces to make them more appropriate for long-term use is a great way to make sure they do not get demolished in the future. This could involve developing an adaptation or disassembly plan with key information (e.g., as built drawings, materials, key components, structural properties, and repair access and contact information). Whenever new construction is necessary use durable materials that are worth recovering for reuse and/or recycling and mechanical fasteners such as screws for easy disassembly. Minimise the use of different types of materials, avoid composites and do your best to make connections visible and accessible.

6.Learn to speak in the language of trade-offs. 

Often reusing building elements comes at an opportunity cost. Managing time, budget, and resources is a tough balancing act. It is important to know when to cut losses and when to keep pushing an idea. Taking a step back from the personal process of on-site prototyping to weigh trade-offs is always a wise, albeit frustrating thing to do. It is also worth remembering that every reuse project is a learning process and that there will be other opportunities to improve on the various stages from inventorying, and deconstruction to repurposing reclaimed material. 

 7. Improvise, play, and most importantly challenge norms (within set time frames).

Since the reuse process involves more uncertainty, it requires designers to improvise and experiment with various solutions. It requires us to be more open to non-standard solutions. Having a sense of playfulness makes this daunting task much more enjoyable and results in interesting architectural moments. Remember, however, to use "playtime" wisely and efficiently. It’s easy to get carried away with experimentation so we have found it helpful to set up internal deadlines to find design solutions with reused materials after which we cut losses and choose a more traditional approach.

8. Document each step.

This is a no brainer, but we tend to forget amidst hectic construction schedules, how important it is to document the construction process. Using a BIM model and its ability to work in different phases (existing, demolished, new etc.), provides a documentation that is ideal for reuse projects, especially larger ones. These models also allow you to handover the space to future users.

9. Reflect on your process, with honesty

Documenting the process comes in especially handy when you are evaluating your process and looking for ways to improve. In the renovation of Arkaden, we chose to demolish 10m³ of light concrete in favour of a flexible, open floor plan that future-proofs the space. These 10m³ of concrete we took down still weigh heavy on our minds. It is too often that declarations of circular and climate benefits are used to brush over the demolition of building elements. Only time will tell if our decision to demolish interior walls will be appreciated by the future uses of the space but till then we take it upon ourselves to formulate strategies that minimize demolition in future projects.  

10. Share your knowledge.

We believe that no lesson is too small to share and as any of you who have tried to wean off an unhealthy habit knows, constant reminders and social accountability always help. Building with raw materials is exactly that; an unhealthy habit that we in the building sector have become addicted to. To overcome this collectively, we need to share our experiences to consciously cultivate a culture that takes care of the built environment.

We plan on continuing our work with reuse, refining our process and skills with each new project. We are especially looking forward to collaborating with consultants, clients and contractors who share this ambition. Get in touch with us if you would like to discuss reusing building components and materials in your next project!