Part destination art. Part destination architecture. Part destination… not landfill.

Art of Diversion (AOD) proposes a first-of-its-kind, zero-waste museum where both the art and the building itself are made out of reclaimed building materials: The Art of Diversion Museum (AODM).

An artist-led, community-driven project:

A Public-Private Partnership
The Art of Diversion Museum (AODM) would be designed to facilitate the exchange of materials and ideas. It would include public gallery and exhibition space and be home to an innovative new cooperative design institute to help accelerate the building industry’s transition to a circular economy. It would include studio and workshop space bringing together under one roof artists, designers and makers whose primary medium is reclaimed building materials. It would serve as a resource hub for donating and procuring materials. It would enable new connections, collaborations and business opportunities. Most importantly, it would serve as a beacon for inspiration, a symbol for what is possible.

The Art of Second Chances
In addition to being a place of entertainment, enjoyment and reflection through art and design, the AODM is envisioned as uniquely combining environmental impact and social impact through the integration of diversionary justice and treatment programs. Just as the intent is to give building materials a second chance, the facility would give disadvantaged members of society a second chance via access to job opportunities, therapeutic creative activities and ways to learn a trade or craft.

A government initiative? A public-private partnership? A philanthropic and/or crowdfunded project?

The question of how to accomplish this is wide open. It will likely involve the collaboration and generous support of a multitude of institutions, organisations and individuals. Ideally it will involve an international design competition to crowdsource the best ideas from all over the world.

The answer to the question of when is a little easier: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Museums should be places of knowledge sharing. They are a unique expression and embodiment of creativity, heritage and cultural values. The museum format is the logical manifestation of the spirit of Art of Diversion, as it will serve as a compelling, tangible demonstration of what’s possible when a community comes together to tackle the problem of waste through the power of creativity.

Unlike many building typologies, museums give architects and designers the opportunity to be imaginative, and imagination is exactly what such a project would require. Plus, museums are typically high profile projects. This should be no different. AOD is unapologetically trying to instigate and expedite a significant shift in the monolithic building industry, so public conversation and debate about the design and execution of this idea is highly encouraged.

Why not? For starters, Sydney has a history of international design competitions. Take the recent AGNSW Sydney Modern Project, for example, or the obvious one, our beloved Sydney Opera House.

We believe that with its unique and challenging criteria the AODM design competition would hopefully garner a similar level of attention, resulting in a new architectural icon for Sydney and, more importantly, putting us on a path towards better building strategies and practices, in general, across the country.

The truth is that most of the innovative precedents for building materials reclamation and reuse are currently found in other parts of the world. Sydney is a city that likes to think of itself as environmentally progressive, and in many ways we are, but we could do much more, especially in the building industry. This project will be a chance to change that, a chance for Sydney to lead by example.

We believe the timing has never been better to bring forth this proposal for a new kind of museum to showcase the potential of circularity and regenerative design principles in architecture, design and the arts.

Buildings and infrastructure consume a significant amount of non-renewable resources every year. Global urbanisation strains material supply chains, contributing to soaring construction costs and property prices. And yet the building industry continues to send large quantities of reusable materials to landfill.

We need better ways of building and making things, but in many ways that starts with better ways of unbuilding and unmaking things. The building industry needs an upgrade from the linear system of take-make-waste in favour of a more circular system of take-make-reuse. Existing buildings should be viewed as a renewable resource, and the use of new materials should be a last resort. We need to close the loop between unbuilding and building.

While ‘fine art’ is often vilified for its extravagance and complicity in resource extraction and wastefulness (hence the rise in eco-activism targeting art galleries and museums), the increase in interest and demand for recycled/upcycled/eco-friendly art and secondhand goods highlights a clear way of closing the loop. AODM presents a solution for the building industry’s waste problem by uniquely linking the built environment and the creation of art through the lens of circularity.

Circularity has gained traction in the building industry recently, but we still have a long way to go. Art of Diversion is about reimagining the so-called ‘end’ of a building’s life, using artistry and design as catalysts for change, taking that which typically has a reputation for being the antithesis of creativity (e.g. demolition) and flipping it on its head, applying circular design thinking and leveraging the power of creativity and community to maximise building material reclamation and reuse.

A zero-waste museum sounds great in theory, but is that actually possible? To answer that, we’ll have to wait and see if the community is up to the challenge.

But if clever people can create accommodation like this in Copenhagen and a zero waste centre and hotel like this in Japan and a circular economy pavilion like this in the Netherlands, there’s no reason that we can’t create a museum and design institute in Sydney following the same principles. Looking locally, if a landmark placemaking installation like this one at Wynyard Station is achievable, why not create a venue that makes similarly inspiring reclaimed art and design a part of our everyday experience all over the city?

These are just a few examples of the execution of the idea that lies at the heart of the AODM proposal. The point is that although such an approach might sound theoretical or fanciful, it has already been proven to work in various forms many times worldwide.

AOD is looking to partner with a wide range of people to make the museum a reality. There are several ways to get involved. Check out the Support page to learn more, and feel free to get in touch.