Often we read of building’s that, for reasons of recycling and sustainability, sentiment, or time, are deconstructed in one location and reconstructed somewhere else.
In most cases, this is a great solution for vacant, and often aging buildings.
Taking such a process one step further is D-Build whom track the story and the journey of each reclaimed piece of the building.
They’re based in Syracuse, New York, and whilst they do not deconstruct the buildings themselves, they offer the “site” whereby stories of buildings and reclaimed materials can be tracked, and additionally act as a marketplace to sell those materials and products made from them.
A variety of local deconstruction projects are profiled on the site, as are many products made from the reclaimed materials, ably assisted by QR codes (similar to barcodes) that assist in linking the materials to their histories. Furthermore, in true social media style, users are encouraged to add their own information where relevant.
Fundamentally at the core of D-Build’s ethos is the importance of sustainability. They state:
“There are currently some 14 million vacant homes in the United States alone, containing materials valued at $75 billion USD; meanwhile, the market for green building materials is expected to exceed $31 billion USD in the U.S. by 2014.”
One only has to look at the financial and historical importance placed on the “tale” antique items have to tell to recognise that there’s certainly a marketplace for such tangible items and the stories attached to them, let alone the practical and sustainable element of the enterprise.
