This incredible reclaimed pavilion defies the old “everything but” cliché – it is entirely made of kitchen sinks. Built by 2012 Architechten in cooperation with Jeanne van Heeswijks of Jeanneworks, the structure has risen up as a stainless steel castle tower amidst the traditional architecture of Utrecht, Vlaardingen and Amsterdam. An inventive example of reclaimed construction, the Sustainable Sky Box serves as a multi-purpose space for cultural activities.
Reclaimed kitchen sinks serve as the pavilion‘s principle facade elements, which are held together with scaffolding, wire and waterproof multiplex boards. The airy structure is open on top to the sky and doesn’t feature any specific amenities inside, which makes it more of a community gathering place than a shelter. The building can also collect rainwater in a tank to water the nearby collective garden.
A stunning example of reclaimed design, we could envision this type of facade being used more frequently. The sink basins could easily be replaced with windows, and the metal could be riveted to the building skeleton for a bombproof cladding material.
+ 2012Architechten
+ Jeanneworks
Via Notcot
Photos Courtesy of Recycloop
Love it. But I’d try re-using sinks as sinks first, before turning them into facade elements. Stainless steel is difficult to weld and work with, requiring more “energy” in the form of labor to use these sinks as cladding. But inspiring nonetheless!
I don’t want to come any closer to that building! lol
Thanks for the interesting story anyway!
it may be helpful to know that most of these sinks were harvested from steel recycling scrapyards just before they would take them melting back to steel. The construction is made in such a way that the sinks can still function as sinks after they’ve done their job for this project: no new holes were added…
Thank God for creativity!!!
studied environMENTAL design in Architecture, love this kind of dwelling shelter thingo thanx for adding
cheers The oOpera Boys facebook
really nice1
This is what the word ‘creativity’ means. Recycling architecture is a cheapest way to build an incredible buildings. If we knows how to use what we have, even if in the most cheapest way, we can built something different but useful. In that way, we helped to eliminate recycled materials in an beneficial way. workout bar
Very strange, but beautiful, too.
I actually quite like the look of the structure itself and the fact that it is from recycled materials is just that much cooler. We see a lot of recycled landmarks here in the Portland, OR area, very green living here.
Very strange but nice ideea
Thanks for the very interesting story!
I question how useful this building really is. Does the wind whistle through the cracks in the winter?
Interesting and innovative approach to building a building. I wonder if this can act as a stepping stone towards a more green environment by the use of recycled materials for building structures.
Actually, I think I have seen a similar building elsewhere. Let me see if I can remember. You don’t really see a building made out of sinks every day, you know.
Keep up the good work.
It’s so creativity!!!
and so gracefully