Join WDC for our Community Connections Series featuring three presentations from Tijuana and Baja based projects. Casa Tamarindo, ReCREA, and Plankton represent innovative approaches to sustainable design, each focusing on transforming waste into valuable resources through creative processes.
Casa Tamarindo, founded by Itamar Lilienthal, is a multidisciplinary research and design studio in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. Specializing in architecture, biodesign, and art, Casa Tamarindo uses organic and inorganic waste materials, including Beernacular, a bio-based material made from beer waste, to create aesthetically and structurally innovative solutions for sustainable architecture.
ReCREA, a community-based initiative from Tijuana’s Laureles sub-watershed, collaborates with the Tijuana River Estuarine Reserve and Universidad Xochicalco to promote upcycling. By repurposing local waste into marketable products, ReCREA fosters economic growth while reducing environmental and health impacts.
Plankton, inspired by the essential role of plankton in marine ecosystems, transforms ocean-bound plastic into hybrid mosaics for architectural applications. These mosaics, made from recycled plastic and cement, offer a sustainable, colorful solution for flooring and wall coverings, bridging environmental action with design innovation.
Together, these projects embody the principles of circular economy, sustainability, and design creativity, each finding unique ways to repurpose waste into meaningful products that reduce environmental footprints while enhancing aesthetic and functional qualities in everyday spaces.
