The aesthetics of sustainable architecture: reused materials

The aesthetics of reused materials, their imperfect textures, unpredictable properties, and patina parts with the modernist understanding of the term beauty. The aesthetics of waste should be discussed trespassing the visual perception. It is necessary to include the Hegelian concept of beauty of the idea and the context or to incorporate the ancient category of appropriateness. In the case of reused materials, the beauty lies in the idea of choosing sustainable solutions and in the adequacy of reusing practices in the times of shrinking natural resources. The deterioration of the environment directs the aesthetic perception of architecture towards such concepts as environmental aesthetics, aesthetics of engagement or environmental ethics, which highlight the importance of contextual, knowledge- and value-based analysis of buildings’ appearance.
Successful examples of the reuse of building materials in architecture are developed as negotiations between materials’ quality, durability, adequacy, their environmental impacts, ethics of using and aesthetics. The case studies from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, presented in this paper, show that the use of construction waste adds authenticity and enriches sensual perception of created space. Moreover, reusing practices influence new, creative design processes which result in high-quality, sustainable architecture.