On November 27, 2020, we went to META Design’s studio in Tamsui to check in on the progress of the Construction Waste Upcycling Project 1.0. At that point, the shared space—built entirely from construction waste—was still very much a concept. There were no complete 3D renderings, no standard material lists, and no finalized furniture plans. Unlike a typical interior renovation, there was no clear picture of what the space would eventually look like. All we knew was which discarded materials META Design had collected from construction sites—not yet what they would become.
For us, this was a test of trust. For META Design, it was an experiment that demanded full commitment.
At their studio, META Design laid out their progress to date: a first-generation formwork chair prototype, a successfully shaped safety-net lampshade, and a pantry structure built from reclaimed formwork. Ideas that had previously existed only in conversation and imagination now stood before us as physical objects. As the META team explained the transformation process and intended use of each material, seeing them with our own eyes and touching them with our hands, the sense of uncertainty we had carried began to ease.
Seeing these materials—once considered waste—being treated with care and slowly taking shape gave us the confidence to move forward, even in the midst of uncertainty. Looking back now, we’re grateful that we chose to commit, and to place our trust in ourselves and our partners. That decision led us down a path that was uncertain at the time, but one that has since proven to be worth taking.
photo credit：META Design
