Salt as a Building Material: Rethinking the Life of Minerals and Waste in Architecture with Mále Uribe

In response to today's environmental, political, economic, and social challenges, material experimentation in architecture invites us to recognize the importance of researching and analyzing the properties of construction elements, and to understand the role of spatial design and its immediate surroundings. While various textiles, plastics, and even waste from different sources are being recycled and given a new life, the debate around the use of salt as a building material encourages the development of more sustainable practices to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment, as well as to explore the renewed life of discarded minerals and mining waste for implementation in architecture.

Esplanade Brighton Apartment / Wood Marsh

Esplanade Brighton elevates medium-density coastal housing in Melbourne through thoughtful design and contextual sensitivity. Delivered in two stages, the project balances bold contemporary architecture with a deep respect for the site's unique Bayside location and surrounding urban fabric. The project replaces a vacant brownfield site with a collection of 24 townhouses and 11 apartments across 4 distinct buildings, nestled amongst an extensively planted native garden.

Kampung Mrican Phase 1 and Microlibrary Pringwulung / SHAU Indonesia

Kampungs (villages) represent a distinct urban form in Indonesian cities, characterized by high-density, low-rise buildings. Kampung Mrican in Yogyakarta is in proximity to two large universities and therefore provides residential rentals too. Improving kampungs demands context-sensitive, acupunctural design rather than top-down planning, ensuring the preservation of original fabric and identity.

Ekasham House / Portal 92

Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence-refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette: evoking the presence of a monolith, from which the project derives its name.

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