Introduction
1. A brief history of building component reuse
Part I: Planning strategies
2. Carlo Scarpa and architectural kintsugi
3. The flexible design: free plan, free façade, free elevation, free section
4. Palliative architecture: maintaining dying pieces
Part II: Assembly techniques
5. Thick architecture: embracing material excess
6. Tectonic strategies: light element construction, stacking and kitbashing
7. Chunks, or what to do with rubble
Part III: Finishing
8. Dirty, icky, yucky architecture; or indexical palimpsests and other contextually loaded materials
9. Stickers and the return of trim
10. Give piece a chance: compositional strategies for found objects
Biography
Bailey Bestul is a registered architect, researcher and author based in New York City. He holds a Master of Architecture from Woodbury University, where he graduated top of his class and was awarded the AIA Medal for Academic Excellence. Bestul has worked in design firms in Minnesota, California and New York, and has completed residential and commercial projects throughout Southern California. He is currently designing a nature resort outside Zion National Park in Utah. Outside of practice, Bestul has conducted research throughout Europe as part of a Fulbright/NAF grant, published articles on architectural reuse and enjoys going on hikes, exploring new places and spending time with friends and family.
"Beyond the projects, quite a few of which I was not familiar with before cracking open the book, the value of Bestul’s book is found in the concepts he proffers for material reuse, each of which is used to structure the nine chapters. These concepts also show the subtle playfulness of the book, echoing the sometimes playful architecture on display."
John Hill, archidose
"Less about greenwashing and more about grit, the book attempts to bridge theory and practice, art history and hands-on craft to show how “waste” can anchor real beauty. With chapters on everything from kintsugi to the aesthetics of grime, Bestul argues for a future where design is about persistence, not perfection."
Editors, The Architects' Newspaper October/November 2025
"Bailey Bestul proposes a circular construction industry in which the reuse of waste materials could provide new aesthetic and symbolic value."
Architectural Record
"Through a compilation of cases, methodologies and processes, the book demonstrates that working with existing components is not a limitation, but an opportunity to project from availability, adaptation and material intelligence. Far from starting from a blank sheet, architecture is built from what already exists, incorporating layers of history, use, and meaning."
Slow Studio
