Two people sit at a wooden outdoor table with a pergola roof, surrounded by potted plants and modern wooden structures crafted from sustainably sourced materials, in a fenced urban courtyard with brick and white walls.
A man sits alone at a wooden outdoor stall with a roof, drinking from a cup—perhaps embracing reuse. Another person walks by in the background. The stalls are set along a paved area with wooden fencing and urban buildings nearby.
Two people sit opposite each other at a small outdoor wooden table with benches, upcycled from old materials, under a simple shelter near a brick wall and fencing. They appear to be writing or drawing on paper.
A person sits at a wooden outdoor table with colourful upcycled shelves, reading a book. The scene is set in a courtyard with potted plants and modern building façades in the background.
Wooden shelves with upcycled books and a vase of flowers rest against a maroon background. Below, various potted flowers and plants are arranged, bathed in natural light from a glass roof above.
Wooden bookcases with open compartments, some holding books arranged vertically and horizontally. A pink floral vase with small purple flowers sits on the bottom right shelf. Exposed beams are visible above. Sustainably sourced timber adds charm.
Close-up of a wooden structure with triangular beams supporting a translucent roof, showcasing sustainability against a blurred background with stone buildings.
A small outdoor wooden library with shelves holding a variety of books, partially enclosed by bamboo fencing and a translucent roof. Built-in benches and the black worktop highlight the space’s recycle and upcycle ethos.
A close-up of a wooden pergola roof with metal fastenings, photographed against a background of a corrugated metal wall and lush green plants below—showcasing smart reuse in line with circular economy principles.
A close-up of a modern wooden staircase with black speckled steps, featuring exposed joints crafted from sustainably sourced materials. A small bookcase with several books is at the top, and blurred white flowers are seen outside a window in the background.
Wooden tiered seating with built-in cubby holes, some containing bocce balls. Flowering plants in pots line the steps and lower level, under a partially covered roof—all crafted from sustainably sourced materials.
Three people sit apart on wooden benches made from recycled materials in an outdoor urban area surrounded by plants, with a brick building and a parked white car in the background. The quiet atmosphere reflects values of reuse and mindful living.
Three people sit and talk on wooden steps outside, near a fence and brick building. One woman sits in the centre, while two men—one in a hoodie, the other in a jacket—chat about ways to recycle and upcycle. Plants grow in the foreground.
Four people sit on and beside large, sustainably sourced wooden box structures outdoors near a street with parked cars and a brick building. Some boxes feature circular cut-outs, with upcycled cardboard and other materials scattered on the ground.

Project Malachi: Salvation Army

Project Malachi aims to improve the outside amenity space for the residents of a Salvation Army hostel in East London and emerged from a collaboration with Building Out, Lathams Timber and the U-Build team.

The hostel’s residents played a big part in its creation, starting with a co-design process, in which ideas were prototyped 1:1 in the space, using 30cm x 30cm x 60cm U-Build boxes.

Photos of the prototype were then used to seek funding for the finished design you see here, which was refined in collaboration with the residents and George, a local volunteer / designer.

The structure was CNC cut out of marine poplar plywood and delivered flat-pack to the hostel for assembly.

 

Photos of completed structure: Andy Billman

Photos of development: George Fisher