Palimpsest of Waste by Ching Yee Jane Li will be presented at the AT Awards live finals on 17 September 2025. Learn more about the project below.

University
The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London

Palimpsest of Waste: The Permanence of the Synthetic proposes a regenerative housing model that transforms synthetic waste into architectural and social infrastructure. Located beside the former Mira Lanza soap factory in Rome—an industrial site now occupied by informal communities—the scheme introduces a circular system in which plastic waste is collected, sorted, and cast into building components on-site. The approach reuses discarded material to create new forms of accommodation tailored to the needs of existing residents.

Rather than displacing marginal communities, the project embeds them in the material and cultural processes of construction. Housing is assembled from customisable components that reflect both functional needs and personal histories, using casted fragments from reclaimed objects. These plug-in elements allow for self-built extensions and adaptations, offering flexibility and continuity with prior patterns of use. This method supports dignity, adaptability, and cultural expression within the built fabric.

A central “plastic piazza” forms the heart of the scheme, structured around a waste campanile and surrounded by communal cooking areas and markets. These spaces build on the traditions of Roman public life, using shared kitchens and open-air gathering zones to foster engagement and social cohesion. Plastic, in this context, becomes not only a construction material but a medium of collective memory and interaction.

The architecture is designed for reuse, disassembly, and reconfiguration, extending the life of both materials and structures. Components such as clip-on panels and inflatable interiors are made from locally sourced plastic waste and respond to changing needs. By positioning reuse as a primary design strategy, the project reframes waste as a continuous resource and establishes a model for inclusive, low-impact urban development.

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