The construction industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, with construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounting for nearly a third of all waste generated. Fragments of the Past is a materials research project exploring the recycling of CDW in product design.

Made from CDW, such as glass, stones, bricks, and concrete, combined with granite powder and a small amount of cement, the project reinterprets the traditional terrazzo technique by incorporating architectural debris. Beyond material reuse, the research examines the cultural implications of demolition, treating waste as carriers of urban memory and proposing that fragments of demolished spaces can be reintegrated into everyday life in new forms.

Within the context of Gentler Futures Festival, the project expands the notion of regeneration to include material and cultural dimensions, diverting waste from landfills and repositioning it as an active element in new domestic and spatial narratives.

The workshop offers a hands-on experience: participants select their own CDW and mould a piece. As cement-based material requires curing, the piece will remain to dry. In the finishing stage, participants sand and polish pre-cast pieces, exploring the textures, patterns, and final qualities of the material.

Participants should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for manual activities (involving cement-based materials) and are invited to bring a mask, a hat and/or scarf. Extra masks will be provided.

Mayra Deberg is a brazilian architect exploring responses to environmental challenges in construction, focusing on waste and resource depletion. She holds a Master’s in Industrial Design from the University of Porto, where she reinterpreted terrazzo using building waste. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD investigating materiality and memory in demolition debris.