When creativity joins environmental commitment, transformative projects emerge. This was demonstrated by Edna Dantas and her daughter Maria Gabrielly, who built the first house made of recycled glass bottles on Itamaracá Island, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Brazil. The name of the island, in the Tupi language, means “singing stone,” and this house seems to resonate with that spirit.
What started as a family dream became a reference in sustainable architecture and women’s leadership. Edna, an environmental educator, grew up in a community with limited resources, where reuse was part of everyday life. She made toys out of bamboo and recycled materials without knowing she was practicing environmental activism.
Manual construction, reclaimed materials, and conscious design
In 2020, observing the accumulation of waste on local beaches, Edna decided to take action. Together with her daughter, they conceived a house built entirely with recycled materials, especially glass, one of the most persistent waste materials in the environment.
For two years, mother and daughter collected reclaimed wood and over 8,000 glass bottles, which they cleaned, polished, and manually placed. They chose to carry out the entire process without machinery or contractors, except for specific tasks, to maintain control over every detail.
The result is a seven-room house with glass walls, roof tiles made from recycled toothpaste tubes, pallet partitions, and an outdoor dry toilet that reduces water consumption. Each space reflects respect for nature and connection with local and indigenous culture.
Mother and daughter transformed 8,000 bottles into a 7-room house.
Regenerative tourism and educational experience
Since January 2025, the house has been available on Airbnb and has become a must-visit for conscious travelers. The accommodation offers an immersive experience in sustainable tourism, where visitors can relax by the sea, learn about ecological construction, and appreciate the reuse of materials.
The interior combines regional crafts, recycled furniture, and a serene and luminous atmosphere. The translucent walls allow natural light to pass through, creating a hypnotic effect during the day and a warm illumination at night.
Recycling in construction: environmental, social, and technical benefits
The use of recycled materials in architecture not only reduces environmental impact but also lowers costs, promotes the circular economy, and creates green jobs. Some of the most commonly used materials include:
- Recycled concrete: used as aggregate in subfloors and lightweight structures
- Reused steel: infinitely transformable for beams, floors, and columns
- Recovered wood: suitable for boards, biomass, or decorative elements
- Recycled plaster: retains its properties for panels and finishes
- Plastic (EPS): crushed for paints, insulation, or new products
- Recycled glass: used in floors, countertops, asphalt, or reflective paints
- Tires: filled with soil to act as structural insulation
Key advantages of recycling in architecture
- Reduced extraction of natural resources
- Energy savings in the production of inputs
- Closing the life cycle of materials
- Job creation in the recycling sector
- Improved thermal and acoustic insulation in homes
