Project implementation: USA
Project development: USA
“Wasted No More” is a self-sustaining desert residence in Pioneertown, California, that prioritizes the recovery of construction waste through the use of “Waste” Blocks—commonly known as bin blocks or concrete retaining blocks. These 6 x 2 x 2 feet blocks are formed from conventional construction surplus, utilizing concrete left over from trucks after pouring concrete for other buildings. This approach offers an economically viable and ecologically conscious prototype that finds lasting value in neglected building remnants. The thermal mass of the massive blocks buffers the desert’s temperature extremes, while the building’s orientation and stepped form naturally mitigate solar heat gain, inviting natural light and cross-ventilation. Powered by solar energy and drawing water from an existing well, “Wasted No More” minimizes its environmental footprint in California’s high desert landscape.
The project is the result of a partnership between the award-winning architecture and research firms Mutuo and There There, both based in Los Angeles. The collaboration stemmed from a shared passion for projects made from waste. During a visit to a recycling plant, the studios discovered the "Waste" Blocks, which became the basis for a repurposed architecture, seeking to give new meaning to neglected materials and methods.
Mutuo, an award-winning design and research firm in Los Angeles, was founded in 2014 by immigrants Fernanda Oppermann and Jose Herrasti. From the outset, they have explored the extraordinary in the use of ordinary materials and methods, striving to create meaningful impact through architecture. To expand Mutuo's reach, their research develops affordable-by-design building systems that aim to simplify the construction process with faster, more cost-effective housing solutions. Their design is rooted in listening to people's stories, seeking collaborations with communities who, like them, navigate identities of "here" and "there" every day.
There There is an award-winning architecture firm founded in Los Angeles in 2022 that challenges conventional ideas through design and research. Adopting a radical "tabula-NON-rasa" approach, the studio unearths layers of physical and intangible information, present and past, that give meaning to places. Their experimental work includes projects in California, Mexico, and Europe, as well as recognized urban design proposals. All of their projects aim to create meaningful experiences and materialize alternative imaginaries.