Rubble as a Resource
- Ta Egg
- Apr 3, 2024
- 2 min read
Utilizing rubble as a locally sourced raw material not only provides unique aesthetic qualities imbued with memories and identity but also minimizes environmental impact by reducing waste, transport, and the consumption of new resources, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities.
Background
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) makes up more than one-third of all waste produced in the EU (1). Most CDW are mineral-based materials, such as concrete or bricks, which make up over 80% of the total CDW mass (2). Rubble is waste from stone, brick, concrete, and other mineral-based materials, usually as the debris from the collapse or demolition of buildings. Currently, in Europe, most rubble is not recycled according to circular principles but instead used as the foundation for roads, backfilled, landfilled, or used as a substitute for gravel in new concrete mixes (2).
However, throughout various historical and cultural contexts, rubble has been reused as a building material.
Terrazzo floors made from leftover rocks from quarries became a popular and cheaper alternative to stone floors in Europe during the 1920s. Nowadays, they are one of the most expensive flooring choices in countries with high labor costs, while in many countries of the Global South, they are a more affordable option that also creates jobs. (3 p.322)
Gaiola Pombalina was developed as a reconstruction method after the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon. Rigid wood structures are filled with rubble from collapsed buildings (3 p.300).
After World War II, in Germany and Austria, "Trümmerfrauen" (meaning "rubble women") cleared and collected reusable rubble for rebuilding purposes.
Practical Implications
Ideally, rubble is reused directly on the construction site or nearby to reduce waste, the use of new materials, and transportation. Rubble can be obtained from previous construction works, the dismantling of another building, or the renovation process itself. As an illustration, House 1413 was constructed using the rubble from previous construction work.
In Granby Four Streets, the community-led neighborhood revival process involved renovating 10 houses. During the process, rubble and other materials from demolished walls were reused to handcraft new building products designed by the architects of Assemble. This led to the creation of Granby Workshop, a Community Interest Company that provides jobs to locals. One of the products created is Granby Rock, which is a colorful recycled terrazzo made from crushed brick, slate, and other rubble from nearby demolitions. This product is mainly used as a decorative mantlepiece for fireplaces. As a performative act, the architects and the community burned doorknobs made from rubble in a barbecue on a neighborhood street.
The environmental advantages of reusing rubble of avoiding waste, reducing transportation, and consuming new resources are evident. In Granby, it is also shows how it generated jobs and fostered creativity. Materials from reused rubble created a particular identity and carried memories of the original houses - spaces that carried memories and people attached to were created.
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References
2 Circular_Buildings_Coalition. (2023). Towards a circular economy in the built environment. Overcoming market, finance and ownership challenges. www.circularbuildingscoalition.org p.54
3 Ruby, I., & Ruby, A. (2020). The Materials Book. Ruby Press. http://src.lafargeholcim-foundation.org/flip/F19bk/344/
5 Granby Workshop https://granbyworkshop.co.uk
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