As the need for a circular construction industry becomes progressively more apparent, building practitioners are increasingly turning to salvaged building components to construct new projects. Yet the aesthetic potential of reused materials remains underexplored. Drawing from art history, architectural theory and constructed works, this book develops a set of design strategies practitioners might employ to develop thoughtful, architecturally rigorous reuse projects. Author Bailey Bestul illustrates the immense design potential of reuse using nine themes that follow the reader from the initial stages of building planning to the finishing of the interior spaces.
Following an overview of the history of component reuse in building design and construction, the first part of this book, “Planning strategies,” provides recommendations for the integration of scavenged building elements into the larger architectural work. From the “gap” to the “wrapper,” these chapters consider how designers might arrange reused components both to shelter and be sheltered, while revealing the age and flaws of these components for maximum design effect. The next part, “Assembly techniques,” considers how reuse projects might be constructed and the way in which the construction method impacts the architectural proposal. Whether framing with sticks or stacking up stones, these chapters demonstrate the variety of assembly opportunities available for found object projects. Finally, the part on “Finishing” suggests the ways these materials can create experiential spaces that may be variously uniform, deeply complex and highly embellished.
Expanding upon the practical steps outlined in the technical literature, this book provides designers with a set of frameworks for approaching architectural reuse during the more conceptual parts of the design process. It is essential reading for professionals interested in integrating reuse in their architectural practice.
Table of Contents:
1. A brief history of building component reuse Part 1: Planning Strategies 2. Carlo Scarpa and architectural kintsugi 3. The flexible design: free plan, free façade, free elevation, free section 4. Palliative architecture: maintaining dying pieces Part 2: Assembly Techniques 5. Thick architecture: embracing material excess 6. Tectonic strategies: light element construction, stacking and kitbashing 7. Chunks, or what to do with rubble Part 3: Finishing 8. Dirty, icky, yucky architecture; or indexical palimpsests and other contextually loaded materials 9. Stickers and the return of trim 10. Give piece a chance: compositional strategies for found objects
About the Author :
Bailey Bestul is a registered architect, researcher and author based in New York City. He holds a Master of Architecture from Woodbury University, where he graduated top of his class and was awarded the AIA Medal for Academic Excellence. Bestul has worked in design firms in Minnesota, California and New York, and has completed residential and commercial projects throughout Southern California. He is currently designing a nature resort outside Zion National Park in Utah. Outside of practice, Bestul has conducted research throughout Europe as part of a Fulbright/NAF grant, published articles on architectural reuse and enjoys going on hikes, exploring new places and spending time with friends and family.
Review :
"Beyond the projects, quite a few of which I was not familiar with before cracking open the book, the value of Bestul’s book is found in the concepts he proffers for material reuse, each of which is used to structure the nine chapters. These concepts also show the subtle playfulness of the book, echoing the sometimes playful architecture on display."
John Hill, archidose
"Less about greenwashing and more about grit, the book attempts to bridge theory and practice, art history and hands-on craft to show how “waste” can anchor real beauty. With chapters on everything from kintsugi to the aesthetics of grime, Bestul argues for a future where design is about persistence, not perfection."
Editors, The Architects' Newspaper October/November 2025
"Bailey Bestul proposes a circular construction industry in which the reuse of waste materials could provide new aesthetic and symbolic value."
Architectural Record
