Restore Value; an exploration of the reuse of timber waste through making interior components

Overconsumption contributes to irreversible environmental damage through greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and water stress. These issues arise from resource extraction, processing, and disposal. Therefore, there is an urgency to develop techniques and strategies to keep materials in the loop for longer. Reusing reclaimed building materials could be a pivotal method to reduce overall material waste and decrease the need for new extraction, looking at demolition waste as a potential reservoir for future materials. The specific focus of this thesis is the investigation of the opportunities for extending the lifespan of demolition timber. Post-demolition timber is found in a range of different conditions. The conditions reflect the original characteristics, from perishable softwoods to more precious native timbers and the impact of use, weathering, and infestations by insects or fungi. A review of construction and demolition waste identified five currently overlooked timber waste categories; borer timber, scrap native timber (smaller than 0.6 meters), broken timber, weathered timber and contaminated timber (nails, paints and plastics). A significant consideration is whether timber infested with wood-boring insects (borer) should be recovered. This research reviewed methods of reuse and, through making, developed a method for reuse specific to interior architecture. The overarching aim of this thesis is to stimulate designers to explore waste material proactively, as waste material could play a vital role in the sustainable development of the construction industry. Due to the large amounts of waste from the industry, the sub-focus was to develop strategies to celebrate the imperfections of demolition waste aesthetically.