An estimate of 1,000,000 tons of waste is produced by trade shows each year, as exhibition structures are often used only for a few days. We designed the Hong Kong Eco-pavilion at Maison&objet in Paris as a reusable system made of recycled materials. Using 3D-printed eco-bricks as modules, the system is adaptable to various forms and arrangements for multiple exhibitions. Made of recycled PET bottles and aluminum, these bricks are structurally efficient, lightweight, stackable, water-proof, and durable, minimizing carbon footprint while achieving longevity.

Collected from schools in Hong Kong, recycled PET bottles were cleaned, processed, and extruded into 3D printing filaments, which were later printed into eco-bricks. These bricks are lightweight, stackable, and portable, keeping the carbon footprint from shipping minimal. Multiple prototypes were developed until we reached a brick design that uses minimum filament while creating a sturdy structure.

The bricks were assembled on-site in a wavy, circular form inspired by the coastline of Victoria Harbour, one of Hong Kong's most iconic natural heritages. Spatially, the pavilion also creates multiple portals that invite visitors to come from all directions to see the exhibitions.

Pigmented in 15 shades of turquoise, the pavilion captures the changing colors of Victoria Harbour in reaction to light. The bricks are staggered, allowing light to pass through, casting shadows that simulate harbor waves.

After the Maison&Objet Paris exhibition, the pavilion was dismantled, transported back to Hong Kong, and reassembled again for a second exhibition at the DesignInspire in Hong Kong.The pavilion is now on its third exhibition at the Polytechnic University School of Design.

2024 marks the year where the Hong Kong government officially banned single-use plastic in the city, prompting us as designers to think about the future of plastic as a material and the possibility of building a circular economy for recycled plastic. By imagining and realizing the multiple lives of recycled plastics, we hope to redefine “wastes” as valuable resources and contribute to material circularity in design and production.