Recycled Materials in Architecture: From Waste to Wonder

As architects and AEC professionals respond to increasing sustainability, carbon, and circular economy requirements, the challenge is no longer whether to use recycled materials—but how to specify them responsibly, creatively, and with confidence.

This live technical webinar examines how recycled materials can move from environmental intent to architectural performance, using fused recycled glass as a detailed case study. Led by award-winning materials researcher and designer Dr. Tyra Oseng-Rees, the session explores how waste streams can become durable, compliant, and meaningful building materials when sustainability, testing, and design intent are addressed together.

Through real architectural installations, heritage projects, and material testing examples, participants will gain insights applicable across recycled glass, aggregates, metals, and composite materials. The webinar balances technical considerations with artistic and spatial outcomes, helping professionals make informed decisions that satisfy performance, design quality, and sustainability aspirations.

Key concepts and practical applications:

• Understand the environmental, regulatory, and market drivers pushing the demand for recycled materials in modern architecture.
• Analyze the flat glass recycling gap, identifying the challenges of coatings, laminations, and current demolition practices.
• Master circular design principles, including cradle-to-cradle thinking, designing for disassembly, dry fixing, and implementing material passports.
• Examine cutting-edge, innovative uses of glass in architecture through global examples like the Crystal Houses in The Netherlands and Magna Glass Ceramics in Germany.
• Dive into an exclusive case study of the award-winning Buttermarket retrofit in Cornwall, detailing the development, material testing, and installation of fused recycled glass shingles.
• Evaluate the Life Cycle Assessment of upcycled glass, demonstrating significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to virgin float glass production.