In Korea, banners are used for many events, such as elections, concerts, and expositions. However, a large amount of them turn out to be wasted or eventually get burnt. Because of that, the intentions of the project are to increase local interest in recycling these banners. Inspired by Freitag’s recycling process which uses truck tarps to make bags, the idea is to change the primary material into banners from around and beyond the site of Sewoon - locations that produce an immense amount of waste. The goal thus being to collect not only the used ones but also the leftovers from the printing shops located on-site.
A key component of the project is to combine and showcase various circular flows such as material, recycling & marketing flows. The expression of these processes are presented through an auction, reprint, collage, and collaboration spaces.
The aim is not to simply create a manufacturing and recycling facility but a space in which people can find a way to express themselves. These engaging spaces of collaboration and creation allow the local community to either craft or buy the transformed product. This will bring a new layer of political and social identity for the community by directly interacting with Korean artists and fashion designers. By reinforcing this cultural bridge, expressed by the views of buildings from the street, the building becomes more than a lab, a fashion, or a research / activism collective, it functions as an architectural and eco-social system within the dense city.