Talk about re-cycling! This simple and elegant alternative Christmas tree in Bermondsey Square, London is made out of 35 wheels from old bikes, and has been delighting passers-by with its unconventional looks. Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the tree is a very fitting symbol of sustainability on a worldwide scale – especially since the wheels making up the design are borrowed from U.K. charity Re-Cycle which collects recyclable bike parts to restore old bicycles and ships them to Africa to be used for transportation by local people and health workers fighting the AIDS epidemic.

David Roberts, deputy chief executive of igloo, the developers who commissioned the recycled tree said: “The Bermondsey Square tree not only looks great; it can be used year after year. It is designed so that it can be dismantled and stored. The bike wheels will be returned to Re-Cycle and will be used to recondition bikes for distribution to Africa. We also hope its presence in the Square will contribute to a number of measures we are taking to actively encourage cycling in London. A big thank you to the team involved who generously gave their time and to all those who donated parts.”

+ Re-Cycle

+ Sarah Wigglesworth Architects

+ igloo development

Via Architect’s Journal

One Response to “Recycled Christmas Tree Made of Bike Wheels!”

Towering Christmas Tree Made of 86 Shopping Carts | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World says:

December 7, 2010 at 9:37 am

[...] seen a lot of wacky Christmas trees made from everything from beer bottles to bicycles in our day but never one made of shopping carts! That’s right, 86 metal shopping carts [...]