Fra Betonfragment til Byggesten

What if waste could become architecture? Fra Betonfragment til Byggesten - From Concrete Fragment to Building Block - transforms discarded concrete into a new kind of building material - one that carries both history and beauty. In Denmark, enormous amounts of concrete are thrown away daily, stripped of structural value, and often sent to landfill. Architects Cecilie Morsbøl and Thelma Slaatto saw potential in these forgotten fragments. Inspired by traditional masonry, they began cutting the concrete into smaller units, creating bricks with terrazzo-like surfaces rich in variation and character. Each cut reveals traces of the material’s past life, turning what was once considered waste into something tactile, meaningful, and visually striking.

The project demonstrates how “useless” materials can be transformed into functional and aesthetically engaging elements, inviting a broader conversation about circular design, material reuse, and the beauty inherent in what is often overlooked.

Working with mason Max Kejser Mortensen (NordSten ApS), Slaatto Morsbøl constructed a full-scale mock-up to test the structural and aesthetic potential of their new concrete bricks. The experiment integrates reused concrete in multiple ways - as façade, mortar, plaster, and flooring - showing how one material can form the foundation of an entire architectural system.

The project challenges traditional definitions of “sustainable” and “local,” proposing that true sustainability lies in reimagining what is already available rather than producing new materials. This approach was recognized with first prize in Arkitektforeningens Udsyn 2024, underlining the project’s capacity to turn discarded concrete into something both beautiful and practical. By working rationally yet poetically with the material, Morsbøl Slaatto offer an innovative method for addressing one of construction’s biggest challenges: waste.

Fra Betonfragment til Byggesten is more than an experiment - it is a statement. The project provides a scalable, real-world example of how construction waste can be transformed into meaningful architecture. It encourages a rethinking of discarded materials, showing that aesthetic value and sustainability can go hand in hand.

In 2026, the concrete bricks will be used in Realdania’s MiniCO₂ Beton project in Fredericia, marking a significant step from prototype to practical application. By demonstrating both the beauty and functionality of reused concrete, the project highlights how architectural innovation can emerge from what is already at hand, setting a precedent for future sustainable building practices.