Transforming to create: upcycling at the heart of design and architecture

Upcycling in design

More and more artists and designers are choosing upcycling to transform existing materials into unique creations. Unlike recycling, which involves breaking down materials, upcycling preserves the essence of objects by finding a new use or a new appearance for them.

Artists and designers who inspire

• Stéphanie Marin, a French designer who reinvents used textiles by creating innovative, often modular objects and furniture that bring a poetic and functional touch.
• Encore Heureux, an architecture and design agency, founded by Nicola Delon and Julien Choppin, which makes it a point of honor to reuse materials in their projects. Their Circular Pavilion, designed for COP21, is a leading example of their approach

And in office furniture?

At Hexagone, our hexagreen solution allows us to integrate upcycling into our office furniture projects. By using recycled materials, we create unique and responsible spaces.

We have thus collaborated with our customers to imagine unique layouts: for example, a new bench while keeping only the metal structure, partitions made from old office tops and much more to be discovered in our creations.

Each of these projects embodies the alliance between design, sustainability and functionality, while carrying a story that makes each space unique. By creatively reusing materials, we prove that a work environment can be both aesthetic, innovative and environmentally friendly.

Upcycling in architecture and urban planning: a new way of building

In architecture and urban planning, upcycling is reinventing the use of materials. Instead of destroying and rebuilding, we are giving new life to abandoned buildings and materials.

Projects that make a difference

• The Circular Pavilion (Encore Heureux) Built with recycled materials, this demountable pavilion, designed for COP21, is a perfect example of how to build sustainably without compromising on aesthetics.
• The Zero Waste House in Paris, created from reused materials, offers a place to raise awareness and learn about waste reduction, by putting upcycling at the heart of its design.
• The Darwin eco-district in Bordeaux, located on a former military barracks. This eco-district is based on the rehabilitation and transformation of existing buildings, while integrating upcycled materials into its layouts.
• In Saint Ouen, a large French construction and concessions group called on us to furnish their new 15000m2 headquarters with most of the furniture made by upcycling with our hexagreen solution (bench, meeting tables, lockers, separative storage or even end of bench)
• A French energy leader also used our hexagreen upcycling solution to limit the impact of its move by relying on upcycled workstations. This project led us to be selected among the finalists of the IDET 2024 Trophies.

‍‍‍Imagining a future with upcycling

Upcycling is a real way of rethinking what we consider to be “waste.” Through furniture, buildings or infrastructures, upcycling redefines what you can do with a little imagination. For example, abandoned wooden pallets become desks, rusty pieces of metal are transformed into modern architectural structures, and used textiles find new life in designer armchairs. This practical and creative approach redefines our daily lives by offering solutions that are both useful, ecological and design.

So did we convince you?

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