Planet earth is our greatest resource, our fundamental common ground. It provides humanity with a beautifully balanced ecosystem that protects the human race. Yet, how are we treating it at the present? Eighteen hectares of forest is felled to feed the growing demand of wood, while we are simultaneously covering our planet with concrete at an alarmingly fast pace. Reports published by CNN and The Guardian have shown that 22 billion tones of concrete are produced each year. In comparison this is more than twice the amount of all plastic produced ever. 

Another aspect that weighs heavily on forest consumption is paper. 40.3% of paper production’s climate impact comes from the burning of trees for virgin paste. 

But paper may also be upgraded from a cradle-to-grave process, linked to the use of concrete, to a cradle-to-cradle one. This cycle lessens the need to cut down new trees and the amount of paper ending up in landfill, in turn reducing the climate impact of paper production by over 50% when using recycling material.

“Our purpose is, therefore, to combine these different challenges and problems towards a common solution.”

“Let’s take a new step towards sustainability: from recycle to upcycle!”

This process can be more developed, moving from the Re-cycle concept to the Up-cycle. While recycling is a chemical process that stretches out the life-cycle of a product, upcycling is defined as the reuse of products that can be altered to create a product of higher quality or value. It’s the idea of “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Thus the goal of the research is not only about reducing the use of new materials, but also finding new and adaptable solutions to different contexts, with building modules that can be moved and used in different places and for different goals.

“WE are proposing that we start to build, from our own recycled waste, a house of paper.”

In collaboration with the Italian inventor, WE Architecture are developing a new construction system based off this papier mache method developed by ‘Paper Factor’. WE is developing a new type of building system. A new building module that can be used both for interior and façade. The system is made up of only a few elements: the paper module, a timber frame and a joint system. It is a compact, light-weight and convenient system, easily assembled into different urban landscapes.

All Paper Factor products are handmade and are produced to be flame- and water-resistant, strong, durable and incredibly light. The product retains details of imperfection due to the manual work of each piece. At the same time, this kind of craftsmanship brings out the uniqueness of the panels in which no two pieces are the same. Yet, however, the machinery allows for precision and accuracy in the production of each piece.

The paper is treated with state-of-the-art technology and can be shaped into an infinite variety of shapes. The paper product ends up drawing similarities to stone, terracotta, or marble due to the natural variation in color and texture.

The house works with the maximum panel size provided by Paper Factor at the moment. The other smaller panels offered have different textures and designs and could be included to create an alternating pattern of panels as a façade system.

The simple timber structure allows for the paneling to be applied and added on or removed. The interior may also incorporate the modular effect of the grid or square with the 1200x1200mm panels becoming pieces of the furniture.

“With Paper House, WE are exploring our creativity, pushing it to the limit.”

How can we work with the paper, to obtain something singular? 2D becomes 3D. Orientation plays a role in a mass of layered papers. From a frontal view, the audience may read depth and volume, yet when you move about the object, the thin layers of paper completely contradict and reject the idea of a whole volume.

“This research is also a concrete response to a number of the UN 17 Goals. WE believe that architects play a key role in designing a better future by researching and defining sustainable cities and communities. “