A winning competition entry, 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, 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 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 first floor of the institute, it creates a pause in a thoroughfare and encourages visitors to reconsider their relationship with waste and each other.