Architects in Colombia have developed a method to construct two-storey houses from recycled plastic waste using interlocking blocks that assemble like Lego bricks.
According to architect Oscar Andres Mendez, a team of four people can erect a 40-square-metre home in just five days. The construction process requires no cement, mortar, glue, or water, relying instead on simple hand tools such as a hammer and a wrench.
The project originated when Colombian architect Fernando Llanos attempted to build his own home on a remote property. As reported by the Times of India, Llanos faced severe logistical difficulties transporting traditional construction materials to the isolated site, prompting him to search for alternative building options.
His search led him to plastic waste, resulting in the creation of a company that manufactures structural building components from discarded material. The production process combines industrial plastic and consumer waste, mixing different types of material based on the specific strength properties required for the future structure.
The plastic is sorted, shredded, and cleaned before being heated to temperatures exceeding 300 degrees. Workers then mold the material into specialized blocks used to construct walls, beams, and other elements for buildings up to two storeys high.
Assembly process and structural safety
Beyond fast assembly, the modular design allows owners to dismantle a structure in approximately three days and transport it to another location. Developers state that heating the plastic above 300 degrees during manufacturing helps destroy microorganisms, making the materials safe for residential construction.
The recycled blocks are also treated to increase their fire resistance. Furthermore, developers claim that the interlocking construction provides stability against earthquakes, offering protection in seismic regions.
Colombia is located along the Andean seismic belt in South America, where earthquake resilience is a standard concern for structural engineers. Traditional construction across the region relies heavily on concrete and timber, which can be costly to transport to rural areas and generate significant environmental waste. Global plastic pollution has driven growing interest in recycled building materials, while Lego, the Danish toy company known for interlocking plastic bricks, has inspired modular architectural systems worldwide.
The plastic housing initiative comes alongside other recent advances in structural technology, including an invention by an engineer who developed magnetic cement designed to transform a construction industry that had seen little major change for decades.
