Musician Fernando Llanos came up with the idea which was later
adopted by Colombian architect Oscar Mendez. After several years of research Mendez
managed to create building bricks out of discarded rubber and plastic. Like a
life-size version of Lego bricks, Mendez’ creations are far greater than the
sum of their parts. He uses the recycled bricks to make homes for the thousands
of homeless men, women and children. Ravaged by years of civil war and by
organized crime, Colombia has a serious poverty problem. Millions there are
living in extreme want. Waste management is also an enormous issue there. “In
Bogota alone,” Mendez says, “6,300 tons of waste is thrown into the landfill annually
of which approximately 12% are plastics. Only 100 tons a year are recycled. We
are recycling more of them to build hundreds of houses for displaced people.”
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