Few businesses have managed to commercialise upcycled products, i.e. new products made from things that would otherwise have gone to waste.
The VILL collective in Bergen has made it their mission to succeed in this respect. VILL is a group of architects, designers, interior designers, scenographers, agronomists and social entrepreneurs who want to change the wasteful way we use resources, whether human or material.
A new chance for offcuts
When VILL received a major commission from DNB Eiendom’s premises at Markeveien in Bergen, they partnered up with seasoned furniture manufacturer Timbla whose woodworking experience spans several generations. Together they figured out how to cut log ends from demolition timbers and a timber merchant’s offcuts, and then how to transform them into finished floors.
Photo: VILL OPP
Used timbers were provided from buildings being demolished by Norsk Rivning and offcuts were sourced from Are Treindustrier at Kaupanger. The log ends were put together to form trays that were delivered to the building site, where filler was applied and they were expertly glued and ground, sanded and oiled. And suddenly the client had a beautiful log end floor.
The enthusiasts at VILL can now offer flooring at competitive prices on a commercial basis. The product is also found in the NOBB database (Norway’s leading product information database for building supplies). They have developed several prototypes and hope that the time is ripe and the trade ready for innovative thinking.
New jobs, old materials
The building trade produces a large proportion of our overall climate gas emissions and much material that could have been reused, goes to waste. The circular-minded architects of the VILL collective point out that upcycling means that assets are put to use rather than wasted.
When we upcycle things that would otherwise have gone to waste, we invest in labour rather than in the production of new materials. This spells more green jobs.
The availability of second-hand raw materials varies, so VILL OPP has entered into an agreement with Are Treindustrier to gain access to the company’s offcuts, which amounts to c. 8000 square metres of log end flooring per year. Workshop and production facilities are now being set up at Laksevåg in Bergen, and the collective is already researching new upcycling opportunities.
Brief facts about the project
VILL OPP: Upcycled log end flooring
By: VILL OPP
Design disciplines: Industrial design, design research, circular design
Recipient of the DOGA Award
This project has received the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture for its outstanding qualities and for showine how strategic use of design and architecture create important social, environmental and economic value.
These are three reasons why this is an exemplary project:
- Circular solutions reduce climate gas emissions
The construction industry is currently responsible for approximately 40 per cent of the world’s climate gas emissions. Circular solutions like VILL OPP, may come to impact significantly on the industry’s overall carbon footprint.
- Creating green jobs
Circular business models secure investment in green jobs rather than in the production of materials.
- Inclusive production
The production of VILL OPP flooring has been adapted for on-the-job training.
