Written by Monserrat Menendez, Interior Designer
Monserrat is an entrepreneur, interior architect, and sustainability advocate, as well as the founder of Senom Design, a firm dedicated to merging innovative design with sustainable solutions. With over a decade of experience across residential, commercial, and international projects, she specializes in bringing clients’ visions to life through thoughtful, high-impact interiors.
Wars leave behind devastation, not only in human lives but also in the built environment. The destruction of infrastructure results in millions of tons of construction waste. Instead of allowing this debris to fill landfills, recycling and repurposing materials can provide cost-effective and sustainable reconstruction solutions. Additionally, integrating salvaged, biobased, and waste-based materials into the rebuilding process ensures a healthier and more resilient future.
Sustainable strategies for post-war reconstruction
Rebuilding in post-conflict zones requires not only immediate solutions but also long-term strategies to ensure sustainability. Emergency dwellings must be easy to maintain and dismantle while providing basic comfort. Meanwhile, medium- to long-term structures must be designed for adaptability and resilience. The Sustainable Reconstruction and Recovery Framework offers a structured approach to transforming disaster recovery into an opportunity for sustainable urban development.
Emergency and long-term construction strategies
Post-war rebuilding efforts must address two key areas:
Emergency housing: Temporary shelters for displaced populations must be efficient, easy to maintain, and adaptable to changing conditions.
Sustainable long-term solutions: Housing and infrastructure must be rebuilt using sustainable materials, energy-efficient methods, and circular economy principles to ensure long-term viability.
Sustainable reconstruction and recovery framework
To build resilient communities, sustainable reconstruction must be structured around key themes:
Efficient resource utilization: Prioritizing local materials to reduce demand for virgin resources and implementing whole life cycle approaches that integrate debris reuse and waste reduction strategies.
Energy efficiency: Developing sustainable energy infrastructures, optimizing energy performance using passive and active strategies, and maximizing reliance on renewable energy to reduce emissions and operational costs.
Water management: Optimizing water usage, protecting natural resources, encouraging water reuse, and implementing sustainable water management strategies to prevent the long-term depletion of freshwater reserves.
Circular materials for reconstruction
HempLime: A low-carbon solution
HempLime, a biobased material made from hemp and lime, provides an innovative and sustainable solution for rebuilding housing. It absorbs carbon dioxide, offers excellent acoustic properties, and naturally regulates humidity and heat, making it a viable alternative for healthier wall systems and insulation.
Seaweed and algae: Renewable marine resources
These rapidly renewable plant resources can replace petroleum-based materials in construction. Eelgrass, algae, and seaweed present exciting opportunities for sustainable design. Since these materials do not require arable land, they help preserve vital resources for food production while contributing to carbon sequestration and providing healthy material alternatives.
Sargassum, the brown seaweed notorious for its negative effects on ecosystems, tourism, and public health, may have a redemptive use as a construction material, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). To create sargapanel, the algae is first collected at sea and then undergoes a solar drying treatment. Once dry, it is packed and sent to Estévez’s team in Querétaro, where impurities such as salt, sand, and plastics are removed from the raw material. After cleaning, the algae is ground, crushed, and sifted into a powder that, when combined with organic fibers and other components, forms the pulp used to manufacture the sargapanel cover. This flexible cover, containing up to 70% algae, is then placed on both sides of a solid core made from sargassum and plaster. Scientists say these panels can be used like any traditional building panel for walls and ceilings, as they also allow for electrical and hydraulic installations.
Cork: A circular and versatile material
Harvested from the bark of the Quercus suber oak tree every nine years without damaging the tree, cork is a fully biodegradable and highly durable material.
Traditionally used for wine stoppers, it is increasingly being integrated into construction for insulation, wall coverings, and resilient flooring. Its natural fire resistance and excellent insulation properties make it a strong candidate for post-war rebuilding efforts. Furthermore, cork is now being repurposed into recycled materials for broader applications.
Conclusion
The devastation left by war provides an opportunity to rebuild using healthier, more sustainable materials. By integrating salvaged, biobased, and waste-based materials into reconstruction efforts and following a structured recovery framework, communities can not only recover but also build stronger, more resilient, and environmentally responsible living environments.
Monserrat Menendez, Interior Designer
Monserrat is an entrepreneur, interior architect, and sustainability advocate, as well as the founder of Senom Design, a firm dedicated to merging innovative design with sustainable solutions. With over a decade of experience across residential, commercial, and international projects, she specializes in bringing clients’ visions to life through thoughtful, high-impact interiors.
She is the U.S. Brand Ambassador for U Green, an organization that helps companies become more profitable while empowering people and brands to follow a consistent path toward sustainability through transformative education and specialized consulting. As an Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine, she shares her expertise in design, sustainability, and innovation. Her mission is to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also responsible and forward-thinking.
