Recycling as an Inspiration for Architecture

Abstract The article approaches the inspiration of recycling at different levels of understanding. The introduction describes the meanings of the word recycling as it is perceived in relation to architecture. The first chapter approaches recycling through its most common understanding as material reuse, describing how the recycling of materials can inspire architecture. The second chapter takes up recycling in the sense of conversion, pointing out the particular importance of addressing this issue. The chapter mentions four theories dealing with approaches to conversion, which are specified through examples, and points to architectural recycling motivated by idea and by religion. The third chapter discusses architecture is inspired by recycling or reusing architectural elements that become the bearer of the idea of behind a new architectural concept. The fourth chapter reflects on understanding the recycling of architecture as taking on the formal image of historical architectural styles, thus reflected in the historical styles of the 19th century and postmodernism of the 20th century. The fifth chapter “Recycling the idea” seeks recycling at the level of the idea, by incorporating old ideas into modern concepts, referring to the Ideal City of Chaux and to Ricardo Bofill, the motif of the medieval mázhaus and Socrates’ house. In the sixth chapter, entitled “Recycling as a concept”, we read about inspiring architecture that takes on recycling at many levels of meaning, becoming important for objectifying the ideological essence of the work. The conclusion of the paper briefly summarizes the results of the work and its essence, summarizing a subjective evaluation of the issue.