The most compelling landscapes are rarely built from brand new materials. They come from stone shaped by weather, timber with a past life and materials thoughtfully repurposed through innovation.

For our practice, working with reused and repurposed materials isn’t a compromise, it’s a design approach that calls for greater skill, material understanding and the ability to see not just what something was, but what it could become.

While the environmental benefits are clear, designing with recycled materials comes with its own challenges. It takes careful detailing and a strong understanding of how each material can be integrated into the design process from the very beginning.

‘Working with reclaimed materials is hands on. Understanding the patina, variation and imperfections is part of the process. We work closely with our contractors to ensure those nuances are not hidden, but thoughtfully embraced within the construction.’

Says Lilie, Landscape Architect

Stone and Rock: The Original Repurposed Material

In Melbourne, bluestone carries a strong cultural and historical connection. Originally quarried for laneways and footpaths throughout the colonial period, reclaimed bluestone now holds a special place in the city’s landscape language. Its worn surface and natural character bring a depth and richness that freshly cut stone can’t quite replicate.

Across many projects, excavation for pools or level changes also reveals basalt beneath the site. Rather than removing it, we see this as an opportunity and a way to work with the existing geology, creating landscapes that feel more connected to place and history.

Project Feature: Yarraville

During our recent excavation in Yarraville, four tonnes of reclaimed basalt were uncovered and have been reused throughout the proposed design as grounding elements within the landscape.

In the community garden, the stone creates a natural backdrop for grasses and native ground covers, while those with polished tops will create informal seating areas designed for gathering, pausing and connecting with neighbours in the pick and collect garden.

Reclaimed Brick: Melbourne’s Built Memory

Melbourne’s Victorian and Edwardian buildings continue to release beautifully aged handmade brick through renovations and demolitions. With their irregular edges, tonal variation and weathered character, reclaimed bricks bring a warmth and depth, while reducing waste, conserving resources and supporting a more circular economy.

Beyond aesthetics, they’ve already proven their durability. When detailed properly, reclaimed brick continues to stand the test of time while bringing a real sense of authenticity to the landscape.

Project Feature: Alphington

This substantial family build within the heritage suburb of Alphington, features reclaimed bricks sourced from Eco Group across a series of inner urban demolition sites. Used prominently through the raised garden beds, the bricks have been wire brushed, sorted by colour, with some having remnants of paint form a previous life.

Using the iconic red brick, with the inconsistencies as memories from the past, give this garden a strong connection to the heritage precinct whilst adding a modern and practical outcome.

New Engineered Materials: Repurposing at Scale

Repurposed materials don’t always need to be reused in their original form. Through grinding, chipping, pulping or reshaping, materials can become something entirely new. Working closely with collaborators and local makers, we’re continually seeing innovative products emerge from what would otherwise be considered waste.

Project Feature: Saltbush

Designed for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, this garden drew heavily from reclaimed and repurposed materials, from crushed brick toppings and old power pole timbers to the reclaimed gabion stone wall.

A standout was the custom engineered brick and terrazzo, developed through months of testing with Natural Brick Co. The project became a valuable learning experience, shaping new ideas and approaches that continue to influence our work today.

The Discipline of the Second Life

Designing with reclaimed materials takes time, care and a thorough understanding of the material itself, but the outcome is always richer for it. Materials with a previous life bring character and authenticity that new materials don’t always achieve.

As Melbourne continues to evolve, we see the growing salvage stream not as waste, but as an incredible design resource. In the right hands, a material’s second life can often be its best.