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Houses built in five days with interlocking bricks made from recycled plastic
🇦🇷 Argentina /Environment & Climate

Houses built in five days with interlocking bricks made from recycled plastic

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A Colombian company, Conceptos Plásticos, creates houses using bricks made from 95% recycled plastic.
  • These Lego-like bricks allow houses to be built in approximately five days at a lower cost than traditional construction.
  • The system addresses both housing shortages and environmental pollution by converting waste plastic into durable, earthquake-resistant, and fireproof building materials.

In Colombia, a groundbreaking initiative is tackling two of the world's most pressing crises: the lack of affordable housing and rampant environmental pollution. Conceptos Plásticos, founded in 2010 by architect Oscar Andrés Méndez and electronic engineer Isabel Cristina Gámez, has developed an innovative system that transforms recycled plastic waste into construction bricks.

The specialists developed a system that converts recycled plastic, such as bags, food packaging, and shampoo bottles, into bricks that fit together like Lego and allow houses to be built in less than a week.

— La NaciónDescribing the core innovation of Conceptos Plásticos.

These unique bricks, which interlock like Lego pieces, enable the construction of entire homes in as little as five days. A typical two-bedroom house requires about six tons of plastic and costs between $4,000 and $7,000 to build, offering a significantly more economical alternative to conventional methods. The company sources its plastic from recyclers and industrial waste, melting and molding it into blocks that weigh around three kilograms each.

A typical two-bedroom house with a bathroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen uses approximately six tons of plastic and can be built in about five days at a cost of between US$4,000 and US$7,000, much cheaper than traditional construction.

— La NaciónDetailing the cost and material requirements for a house built with the recycled bricks.

Beyond their environmental benefits and rapid assembly, these structures boast impressive durability. According to Méndez, buildings constructed with these bricks are resistant to earthquakes and fire, provide good insulation, and are designed to last over 200 years. The company has already built over 50 homes and schools in Colombia. The system's potential was recognized internationally when UNICEF contacted the founders to address plastic waste obstructing drainage and spreading disease in Ivory Coast.

each building, according to Méndez, should last more than 200 years.

— Oscar Andrés MéndezHighlighting the long-term durability of structures made from the recycled bricks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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