In a society where each of us can create wider networks than ever before, where getting in touch with anyone from anywhere has never been easier, the development of the internet and smartphones helped us to achieve more efficiency, encouraging economical and societal development. We are developing to an urban space where the focus is on real life interaction. A place where we concentrate for once on physical contact rather than on the virtual . COVID-19 has highlighted this need.

Physical contact and its immediacy is essential for humanity. Our project aims at giving people reasons to connect physically, to build a concrete relationship. It materialises through an architectural design which triggers meeting, contact and interaction either by eye contact or proximity : these benches are their catalyst. The interaction between people is enhanced by usage, but also by elaboration : a person recycling their plastic bottles from which comes the building blocks for precious human interaction. Each one becomes part of the process of building not only benches, but more importantly, a city wide caring community. BRIC (Build, Rotate, Interact, Connect), the recycled plastic brick that breaches barriers, is a concept of curved stackable benches that promote sharing and collaboration. Its length, with handles at each end means the best way to carry one of them is to find help from someone else. Those two people become space designers since the two octagonal plugs enable them to articulate the structure as they see fit. Its curved shape enables two people to turn towards each other. With BRIC you are not alone any longer while waiting for your train, tram or bus. You may even want to spend more time on BRIC while you enjoy so much creation, contact and interaction.

https://youtu.be/jb2B0mzUD6A

https://www.recyclerebuild.org/

https://youtu.be/g2tETl1NsTo

Poster

Details

Team members : Augustin Pol, Catarina Varela, Clémentine Renaud, Django Vranken

Supervisor : Dr. Eng. Architect Jean-Luc Capron

Institution : Université Catholique de Louvain - LOCI

Descriptions

Credits

Augustin Pol, Django Vranken, Clémentine Renaud, Catarina Varela

Augustin Pol, Django Vranken, Clémentine Renaud, Catarina Varela

Augustin Pol, Django Vranken, Clémentine Renaud, Catarina Varela

Augustin Pol, Django Vranken, Clémentine Renaud, Catarina Varela

Augustin Pol, Django Vranken, Clémentine Renaud, Catarina Varela, Loup Mormont, David Vranken