from waste to worth: design strategies for circular plastic materials module 2: co-creation & prototyping - ed.1

DIPARTIMENTO DI ARCHITETTURA, INGEGNERIA DELLE COSTRUZIONI E AMBIENTE COSTRUITO

This workshop corresponds to MODULE 2 (second edition) of the course “From Waste to Worth: Design Strategies for Circular Plastic Materials” and is an in-person, hands-on laboratory focused on co-design and prototyping with plastic waste. Participants work in interdisciplinary teams to develop a prototype of an architectural component starting from selected plastic waste streams, experimenting with low-tech fabrication techniques and circular design strategies. The programme is structured into three main phases: - Pre-training lecture (13 April 2026, 16:00–18:00 CEST, Politecnico di Milano or online) to align participants on materials, processes, and project workflow. - Design evaluation session (29 April 2026, 14:00–16:00 CEST, Politecnico di Milano or online) where teams present their concepts to an expert panel for feedback and refinement. - Prototyping days (14–15 May 2026, 10:00–17:00 CEST, Off Campus Cascina Nosedo, Milan) dedicated to plastic waste sorting and characterization, processing with low-tech stations, assembly, and final presentation of results. Activities include waste stream selection, definition of functional and material requirements, identification of production challenges, and evaluation according to key performance indicators such as polymer–function correspondence, comfort and aesthetic quality, end-of-life considerations, ease of production and scalability, and level of innovation. The workshop is primarily delivered in person and is based on guided teamwork and active prototyping.

• Understand the technical and design challenges related to the use of plastic waste in architectural applications through hands-on co-design and prototyping activities. • Apply knowledge on polymers, material properties, and processing parameters in the fabrication of prototypes using low-tech techniques (heat press, film welding, digital upcycling). • Develop interdisciplinary circular design skills by assessing material performance, manufacturability, scalability, and end-of-life aspects. • Experiment with sorting, characterization, and transformation of plastic waste streams (e.g., packaging, automotive, and mixed plastics). • Strengthen collaborative and problem-solving skills through teamwork, expert reviews, and guided prototyping.

No mandatory technical prerequisites. A good command of English is required, as the workshop is delivered entirely in English and involves active participation, teamwork, and presentations. Previous experience in plastic materials, fabrication, prototyping, or design will be considered an asset.

OFF CAMPUS CASCINA NOSEDO - POLITECNICO DI MILANO - Via S. Dionigi, 80, 20139 Milano MI

Director: ANDREA GIOVANNI MAININI

Co-Director: ELENA CASOLARI

DIPARTIMENTO DI ARCHITETTURA, INGEGNERIA DELLE COSTRUZIONI E AMBIENTE COSTRUITO

ANDREA GIOVANNI MAININI

0223996018

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seed-dabc@polimi.it