We’re on a mission to make construction and demolition waste obsolete by harnessing the power of collective creativity.
Our goal is to make the reclamation and creative reuse of building materials the norm instead of the exception.
Art of Diversion (AOD) is a creative studio and design consultancy that uses reclaimed building materials and other objects salvaged from the local community as its preferred medium in the creation of eclectic works of art, architectural installations and handcrafted items.
Our Vision
A more beautiful world without waste
Our Purpose
To repurpose, as much as possible
Our Mission
To make construction and demolition waste obsolete by harnessing the power of collective creativity
What we do:
Advocacy
Campaigning for circularity and the adoption of regenerative design practices to help reduce waste in the building industry
Organisation
Curating gatherings and exhibitions to facilitate connections and showcase work that exemplifies the Art of Diversion
Diversion x Design
Collaborating with a network of reclamation specialists, designers and makers to creatively reuse materials—Diversion by Design
What is Art of Diversion?
As a concept, we define Art of Diversion as:
Anything that elevates the diversion of ‘waste’ to an art form.
This means not only diverting materials from landfill, but intentionally repurposing or upcycling them in a way that is creative and inspiring. Art of Diversion may refer to an artful process, or it may refer to an outcome of that process such as a building, installation, product or work of art.
Interloop by Studio Chris Fox (shown) is an architectural sculpture that floats above the escalators at Sydney’s Wynyard Station. Described by Transport for NSW as ‘paying homage to Wynyard’s historical legacy, while bringing the poetic and the exceptional to everyday journeys,’ it is precisely this kind of public display of would-be waste wisely diverted that we would love to see more of in Sydney and in cities around the world.
Check out our Inspiration page for more projects like this that embody the spirit of Art of Diversion.
Reimagining
the Museum
We have an ambitious vision for a new kind of art and architectural destination, a Zero-Waste Museum designed to change the way the world thinks about building materials.
We’d love your help making this vision a reality.
Become a Founding Member
How would you like to play a key role in bringing a first-of-its-kind museum to Sydney? We are actively seeking development partners, committee members, promotional sponsors and donors. There are many ways to help out, and we invite you to get in touch.
Call for Collaborators
We envision a world where existing buildings are thought of as renewable resources and using new materials is a last resort. If, like us, you’re tired of seeing perfectly good materials go to waste, let’s work together.
Donate Unused Space
We’re always on the hunt for vacancies that can serve as short-term AOD hubs, spaces where we can store materials and host pop-up exhibitions to give local communities a glimpse of what the future museum will offer. If you have spare warehouse space or a venue somewhere in the Sydney area that might suit our needs, please get in touch.
Donate Supplies
We know there is no shortage of ‘pre-loved' building materials out there waiting to be put to good use, sitting in backyards and sheds or getting tossed in skip bins, all too often destined for landfill because no one intervened. If you have building materials that you think are ‘waste’, let us be the judge of that.
We’re committed to ensuring that AOD remains a community-driven initiative and that it retains a spirit of openness, experimentation and collaboration as we grow. We’re in this to make a crazy dream come true: a museum made out of ‘waste’ for art and design made out of ‘waste’.
If you like supporting crazy ideas or have some of your own related to reducing waste, then we look forward to connecting with you. We’ll be doing lots of prototyping along the way—installations, pavilions, pop-up exhibitions (consider it an ongoing festival of creative waste diversion!)—and we anticipate plenty of opportunities for other dreamers to get involved.
