News

Pole position

Published 5 March 2013

A University of Brighton architect has built a giant totem pole to spread the word about recycling and the need to use resources in a sustainable way.

The nine-metre (30ft) Waste Totem is made from rubbish and is welcoming 50,000-plus visitors expected at this year's Ecobuild exhibition and conference between today and Thursday this week at the London ExCel, Royal Victoria Dock.

Ecobuild 2013 commissioned Duncan Baker-Brown, lecturer at the university's Faculty of Arts and Director of BBM Sustainable Design, to construct the totem for what is the largest sustainable construction trade show in the world.

The totem is in the central axis between the two ExCel halls and features 20 waste slogans that won a recent Twitter competition to be included.

The Waste Totem at Ecobuild 2013.

The Waste Totem which has been constructed with help from Mears apprentices is complemented by the University of Brighton's WasteZone also at EcoBuild (Stand EXS745), a 90 square metre event space dedicated to the discussions of issues and potentials of seeing waste as a future resource. Some of the UK's most innovative designers, makers, campaigners and thinkers will be presenting their ideas, showing examples of products, buildings, furniture etc – all made from waste.

At lunchtime each day the film Trashed is being previewed. This new British-made documentary featuring Jeremy Irons reveals the reasons why we should all be concerned with reducing waste, being more resourceful and taking responsibility for the problem.

Brighton's Fotodocument are exhibiting Reclaimed Journeys, a photo essay by Australian photographer Rodney Dekker that documents positive waste initiatives across Australia. Super scavenger Cay Fletcher, Interior Architect Gem Barton and her students have up-cycled benches for visitors to use. Chalk Architecture are donating 4 beautiful cardboard chairs for presenters to sit on and autograph for auction on the final day.

The WasteZone is curated by Duncan Baker-Brown and Nick Gant, Assistant Head of the School for Research, Economic and Social Engagement at the University of Brighton, and is supported by the university as well as Brighton & Hove City Council, Fotodocument and Freegle Brighton.

The WasteZone will host six seminars each day of EcoBuild and be manned by students, apprentices, academics, builders, environmental experts, businesses and resource pioneers highlighting expertise, innovation and enterprise around sustainable design, building, waste management and resourcefulness.

Thank you to our sponsors

The WasteZone has the support of the following companies who gave generously to ensure that it will pop up for 3 days at EcoBuild 2013: