Qatar University

College of Engineering
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning

Course Title:
ARCT 211 - Architectural Design Studio I (Fall 2011)
Instructor:
Dr. Yasser Mahgoub, Associate Professor
 Project

“Recycling for a Sustainable Environment”

A Table from recycled materials
 Objectives
• The goal of this
assignment was to
increase the students’
awareness of the
sustainability concept
and possible reuse of
discarded materials.
 The 3 Rs:
Recycle - Reduce - Reuse
• Recycle means to process old, used
items in order that the material can be
used to make new products, i.e. glass,
plastic, newspapers, aluminum cans,
and plastic bottles.
• Reduce refers to lessening the amount
of items or resources that are
consumed, using only the amount that
is needed, and looking for alternatives
that will lessen our use.
• Reuse means extending the 'life' or
repurposing an item rather than
discarding or throwing it away.
 Tables Made From Recycled
Materials
• Salvage woods, used books, and
more are the materials used to
complete the following wonderful
and useful furniture.
• Some of them have tabletops
made from recycled books.
• These furniture are also perfect
as one of your home decors.
• Perfect for use as coffee
tables because they are quite
small and short.
 Requirements
• Students are required to
design and construct a full
size table made from a
recycled material of their
choice.
• The materials chosen for
this assignment should be
easy to find recycled
materials.
 Requirements
• The constraint of the assignment were:
– To use one primary and one secondary
available materials.
– Minimum glue, tape, adhesive or bonding
materials should be used.
– The table must be able to hold an average
distributed weight of (20 KGs) (ex. Books,
newspapers, reports, etc.).
 Educational Objectives
• Understanding- Vitrovian aspects of architecture: Utility,
Firmness and Delight
• Understanding- Different factors involved in the design
of a table. (Shape, structure, workmanship, innovation,
aesthetics, … )
• Ability- Design Process & Product
• Ability- Problem Analysis, Alternatives Generation,
Design Development, Construction.
• Skills - Scaled and Full-size model making skills.
• Skills - Hands-on experience of the use of materials and
assembly requirements.
 Course Information
• Duration: 2-Weeks.
• Level of Effort: Individual.
• Submissions: A full size prototype model.
• Grading Criteria
– Use 25%
– Structure 25%
– Aesthetics 25%
– Workmanship 25%
Tables from recycled materials

EXAMPLES
The main material is magazines and other materials that have been found suitable; they
are then covered in an eco friendly resin which helps to keep the water out.
Recycled Phone Book Coffee Table
The combination of found furniture and solid timber turns these unique and stylish tables
into quirky conversation pieces.
Made from scrap lumber and forklift pallets this small table uses resources that would
otherwise end up in landfills. It resembles the skeleton of some small prehistoric beast.
Recycled Paper Table. This table is made of 100% post-consumer recycled paper board.
Recycled Wine Barrel Table
Utensils
Snowboards
Console table made from recycled material
Both the stool and table are made from 95 percent recycled materials! Lloyd stacks and fuses
together locally salvaged offcuts of various colors of sheet material. The bases are topped with
glass or a circular piece of the same layered material — which could have been cut from the very
material supporting it. The resulting furniture has a rainbow layer cake effect that would
complement any apartment.
HOW TO DESIGN FROM
RECYCLED MATERIALS
 How to Design From Recycled Materials

• There can be a big element of satisfaction in creating

new uses for old objects. Using recycled materials in
anything from furniture building to craft projects is a way
to give a second life to what otherwise would be
garbage. Designing from recycled materials is very
dependent on the type of objects that you have access
to. With some creative thinking, you should be able to
come up with innovative ways to incorporate the
materials.
 How to Design From Recycled Materials

• Analyze the materials at hand. When designing with

recycled materials, you need to work with what you
have, so think outside the box for inventive ways to turn
ordinary old objects into something new.
• Consider the parts of the recycled materials, not the
whole. While there are some items that may incorporate
an entire recycled item as-is into the design, think about
what you can do with the materials once they've been
cut apart, dismantled or altered from the original state.
For example, create a photo frame from a tissue box
that's been cut apart or a chair from an old shopping cart
with the wheels and front panel removed.
 How to Design From Recycled Materials

• Sketch out a rough drawing including labels and

diagrams of how the recycled materials will be
incorporated into the design of your project. If you aren't
comfortable with your artistic skills, writing your idea
down may be just as helpful. Drawing or writing helps
you to shape and form your ideas into more concrete
ones.
• Gather any items you'll need for project completion in
addition to the recycled materials.
• Bring your design to life by creating, building or shaping
your idea from the recycled materials. Prepare for the
fact that you may have to modify your original design
idea.
EXAMPLES OF OBJECTS
MADES FROM RECYCLED
MATERIALS
Recycled Materials Used in Architectural
Designs and Buildings
Shipping Container Buildings
Recycled Material Used in Furniture Design and
Construction
Lighting Fixtures
Tables from recycled materials

2011 ASSIGNMENT
Thank You