BintoGather: An interactive installation transforming recycling into a communal and playful experience

Root and Erect’s BintoGather installation reimagined the everyday chore of waste disposal as an opportunity for social interaction and community building. Located within the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) during the London Festival of Architecture, the project uses recycling as a catalyst for engagement, inviting users to gather, rethink waste, and form connections through shared activity. Constructed primarily from reclaimed materials sourced from RIBA’s own vaults, the installation is a physical embodiment of sustainability and resourcefulness. Its scaffolding framework supports an assemblage of fabric, nets, recycled paper, and repurposed office furniture, creating a flexible, playful environment that encourages users to interact with waste disposal in an imaginative way. As recycled materials accumulate, the installation evolves into a new ‘living room’ - a tangible metaphor for community growth and transformation.

Designed as a research-driven, competition-winning proposal, BintoGather challenges the traditional perception of recycling as a solitary or mundane task. By combining waste drop-offs with playful elements such as a punch bag, board games, and seating, the installation fosters spontaneous conversations and exchanges. Positioned on the second floor of the institute, it activates an overlooked interior space and encourages visitors to reconsider their relationship with waste and each other. Root and Erect emphasize that this daily, routine activity has great potential for natural interaction, turning a practical necessity into a joyful, shared experience that cultivates a sense of belonging and communal responsibility within the RIBA community.