Réem-quoi ?

About the residency

The residency, organized by Territoires Pionniers and Le Plateau Circulaire, focuses on the theme of material reuse in Normandy. The term "reuse" can be both precise and ambiguous, evoking varied—and sometimes biased—imaginaries that the residency aims to explore.

Legally, reuse refers to a process where non-waste elements are used again for their original purpose (e.g., a door removed and reinstalled elsewhere). It differs from repurposing (changing the use of waste materials, e.g., a door turned into a table) and recycling (transforming materials with energy-intensive processes, e.g., a door shredded into particleboard). For this residency, reuse is broadly defined as giving a second life to construction elements (materials, equipment, etc.) that have already served a purpose, akin to terms like "salvage," "second-hand," or "refurbished."

The residency also expands the concept to include the reuse of entire buildings or building components. Preserving and transforming existing structures are seen as preliminary steps to material reuse. Thus, the focus extends to preexisting resources—whether material, architectural, built heritage, or even living systems—and the practices of care toward them (preservation, maintenance, repair).

What does "reuse" evoke for you? What imaginaries or preconceptions come to mind?