We often feature examples of palletecture and cargotecture — wood shipping pallets and metal shipping containers repurposed for architectural uses — though seldom come across the two incorporated into one project. One of the few examples involving both types of repurposing can be found in this earlier Unconsumption post about Infiniski’s Manifesto House in Chile.
As you can imagine, I was psyched to learn during my most recent trip to Dallas about the opening of The Foundry, a beer garden in the Oak Cliff neighborhood, which features BOTH palletecture and cargotecture, among other examples of creative reuse.
The Foundry’s stage, designed by Gary Buckner, is constructed from used pallets, and several decommissioned shipping containers furnished with second-hand items serve as lounge areas.
For additional information on The Foundry and attached restaurant Chicken Scratch, see this D Magazine review. From writer Carol Shih: “Just about every piece of furniture and design — from the hanging lamps fashioned out of crates to the wall decor — is a lesson in recycling.”
Well done, isn’t it?
Photos, top to bottom, used with permission from Flickr user Bullneck and Instagram users Megan Smith (@megan_sm on Instagram), Matt Shelley (@mattshelley), Fred Pena (@alfredchingon), and @redondallas. Bottom photo via D Magazine.
More palletecture — pallets used as building material
Students in the University of Colorado’s design+build studio used pallet wood, 2x4s reclaimed from an old railroad bridge, and various other found and donated materials to construct two pavilions for local non-profit organizations to use for open-air markets and other agricultural and environmental purposes.
The project, completed in 2010, has earned awards from local and state AIA (American Institute of Architects) chapters.
(photos by Nathan Jenkins; via architectural firm Studio H:T, whose principals were involved with the project)
For construction photos, see the design+build studio’s Facebook album here.
More palletecture — pallets repurposed as building material
We’ve come across wooden pallets repurposed for many uses, more furniture than architectural applications — palletecture, as some of us refer to it — though we’ve spotted several examples of the latter.
Now here’s another palletecture project (via eVolo) to add to the list:
A pavilion, designed by Avatar Architettura, at the German Institute of Culture’s Villa Romana in Florence.
(Am I the only person who wishes the structure hadn’t been covered in PVC?!)
Pallet repurposing, continued:
Pallet wood used as wall covering.
How-to / DIY details: Grand Design
Reminds me of Piet Hein Eek’s “scrapwood wallpaper” (mentioned here), which is laid out vertically in a more staggered arrangement. Another reclaimed pallet wood wall application can be seen in the technology building on the Central Washington University campus (our post about it here).
![Amazing “austerity house” — furnished and finished with reclaimed goods
In these belt-tightening times, it always helps to shop around to get the best deal.
But one couple [whose business we’ve mentioned previously on Unconsumption here] have taken that philosophy to the extreme by completely transforming their home simply with reclaimed goods.
Trawling charity shops and tips, and searching on websites Gumtree, Freecycle and eBay, the pair managed to create an incredible home from items no-one wanted.
What would have cost about £35,000 using new materials has been done for under £3,000 - albeit with thousands of man-hours.
Among other salvaged materials, pallet wood was used throughout the home; a bed platform (pictured above), and window coverings and kitchen cupboards (below) are made from it.
Read the rest and view more photos here: The austerity house: Couple completely make over their home with reclaimed goods | Mail Online
[Thanks, Laura Muresan, @LaurasLastDitch!]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx1h5ynrEx1qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
Amazing “austerity house” — furnished and finished with reclaimed goods
In these belt-tightening times, it always helps to shop around to get the best deal.
But one couple [whose business we’ve mentioned previously on Unconsumption here] have taken that philosophy to the extreme by completely transforming their home simply with reclaimed goods.
Trawling charity shops and tips, and searching on websites Gumtree, Freecycle and eBay, the pair managed to create an incredible home from items no-one wanted.
What would have cost about £35,000 using new materials has been done for under £3,000 - albeit with thousands of man-hours.
Among other salvaged materials, pallet wood was used throughout the home; a bed platform (pictured above), and window coverings and kitchen cupboards (below) are made from it.
Read the rest and view more photos here: The austerity house: Couple completely make over their home with reclaimed goods | Mail Online
[Thanks, Laura Muresan, @LaurasLastDitch!]
I-Beam Design, a New York-based architecture firm, designed a 500-square-foot dwelling (known as Pallet House), composed of 100 reused shipping pallets.
The project, which took approximately one week to construct, was an entry in Architecture for Humanity’s transitional housing competition.
The goal: to create a low-cost shelter for victims who lost their homes in natural disasters or war. The result: a charming, $2,000 - $2,500 makeshift bungalow that features a multifunctional table and sitting area, a sleeping loft, benches and counter space, roof access, bathroom and shower area, window sill plant-holders, and a floor that extends to create a small outside deck. Tack on a doorman, and you have more amenities than most apartments in New York City.
![Beautiful new floor made from old pallets
A couple days after writing about Arctic Plank floors [Unconsumption’s post about it is here] made with reclaimed shipping pallets, Oregon-based Viridian Wood Products announced two new flooring products made from shipping pallets and crates. The two lines are FSC-certified, 100% reclaimed, and available with or without a low-VOC polyurethane finish.
Viridian Wood Products may contribute towards LEED credits in a number of categories, including for materials reuse, recycled content, regional materials, and certified wood.
(via Jetson Green)
Special note: In the Jetson Green post’s comments, a reader addresses the subject of safety of pallet wood reuse, noting that some wood’s been treated with chemicals to help kill or repel insects and/or bacteria. Viridian’s owner responds, saying the company uses heat-treated (not chemically treated) wood and has had no problems with it.
Related: On the Unconsumption Facebook page, we’ve discussed the idea of using heat-treated pallets instead of chemically treated products. And, over on TreeHugger, Lloyd Alter has also brought up the subject. (See his recent post titled Are pallets unpalletable building material?)
For other pallet repurposing ideas/projects — furniture, palletecture, and more — see the Unconsumption archives here.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltasb4TlNG1qzv12bo1_400.png)
Beautiful new floor made from old pallets
A couple days after writing about Arctic Plank floors [Unconsumption’s post about it is here] made with reclaimed shipping pallets, Oregon-based Viridian Wood Products announced two new flooring products made from shipping pallets and crates. The two lines are FSC-certified, 100% reclaimed, and available with or without a low-VOC polyurethane finish.
Viridian Wood Products may contribute towards LEED credits in a number of categories, including for materials reuse, recycled content, regional materials, and certified wood.(via Jetson Green)
Special note: In the Jetson Green post’s comments, a reader addresses the subject of safety of pallet wood reuse, noting that some wood’s been treated with chemicals to help kill or repel insects and/or bacteria. Viridian’s owner responds, saying the company uses heat-treated (not chemically treated) wood and has had no problems with it.
Related: On the Unconsumption Facebook page, we’ve discussed the idea of using heat-treated pallets instead of chemically treated products. And, over on TreeHugger, Lloyd Alter has also brought up the subject. (See his recent post titled Are pallets unpalletable building material?)
For other pallet repurposing ideas/projects — furniture, palletecture, and more — see the Unconsumption archives here.
![Palletecture yields savings of both material and financial resources
For a kitchen/bath industry show and conference, Crystal Cabinet Works designed and built its own trade show booth using 120 shipping pallets.
“If we’d built this booth out of typical exhibitry, it would have cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars,” [Don] Papa says. “But with the reused pallets and internal labor, the materials and construction were practically free.”
(via Waste Watchers — EXHIBITOR magazine)
See also: Other ideas for pallet repurposing here, and convention material upcycling here.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsw1ep3xlQ1qzv12bo1_400.jpg)
Palletecture yields savings of both material and financial resources
For a kitchen/bath industry show and conference, Crystal Cabinet Works designed and built its own trade show booth using 120 shipping pallets.
“If we’d built this booth out of typical exhibitry, it would have cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars,” [Don] Papa says. “But with the reused pallets and internal labor, the materials and construction were practically free.”
(via Waste Watchers — EXHIBITOR magazine)
See also: Other ideas for pallet repurposing here, and convention material upcycling here.
Potential palletecture in Paris
This conceptual (unbuilt) design for student housing features an exterior clad with wooden pallets. Designed by Malka Architecture.
(via ArchDaily)
More palletecture — pallets repurposed as building material
Wood reclaimed from cargo container pallets is used on the walls, floor, and ceiling of a new addition to Hogue Hall, Central Washington University’s engineering and technology building. LMN Architects of Seattle designed the project — the renovation and expansion of the outdated building constructed in 1970 — to LEED platinum standards. (via Daily Record)
The use of used pallet-wood in CWU’s building is the most elegant-looking pallet-reuse example I’ve come across. I suspect I’m not the only person who looks forward to seeing other photos of the building. (The entire project is expected to be completed in 2012.)
See also: Earlier Unconsumption posts on palletecture and other uses of pallets.
Palletecture — pallets repurposed as building material
We’ve seen wooden pallets repurposed for many uses. Reuse as furniture and shelving seems to be more common than use for architectural applications — palletecture, as many of us like to call it — though we’ve seen a variety of examples of that.
Here’s another palletecture example (via Designwatcher) to add to the list:
Salvaged pallets help to filter light into bedding-maker Matteo’s outlet in Los Angeles. Inside the store, pallet wood lines the walls and is used as display fixtures. (Click on the photo above to see an interior shot of the store.)
What do you think? Are you a fan of the rustic look?
Unconsumption reader Sean told us about John MacDonald, who built a wood shed out of shipping pallets in Nova Scotia more than five years ago. Evidently, Mr. MacDonald’s work and Web site have inspired other folks to reuse pallet wood in building their own sheds and other buildings; check out the various projects here. (Note: It takes a lot of scrolling to reach the bottom of the page.)
(Thanks, Sean!)
Other Unconsumption posts about new uses for pallet wood here.
