Target reached!
On our first visit at the stoneyard at the beginning of this year we realised that t...
Liberation from Landfill
Spain
Aim
A mission to rescue & reuse a 40 year legacy stacked in stone. Help us to save thousands of square meters of usable materials from landfill.
1 March 2022, a historic stone yard in Catalunya is 2 weeks away from demolition. At the last moment, Leleni Studio negotiates a short term lease to stop clearance of the land and to prove the potential reuse of over 2000 m² of stone, saved and stacked during 40 years of business. 6 months on, we need your help to further the progress already made in reintroducing the stone into architecture and design.
With your support and the funding from this campaign, we will delay demolition for another 6 months minimum, providing the necessary time to develop this project to its full potential.
On our first overwhelming visit to the site, we realised the unique opportunity for long lasting progress with so much material available for reuse. The capacity of this project goes far beyond this stoneyard...
Collaborating with you to supply these materials in small or large quantities to your projects, or making our reclaimed stone designs part of your home as rewards for your support, will provide a future to these materials and establish reuse as a way of life.
2000 m² / 500 tonnes of stone waiting for reuse
At the beginning of 2022, Alessandra Monarcha and Charlie Paddick moved to Barcelona to start Leleni Studio with the ambition of promoting reuse in Architecture and Design. By creating a platform offering reclaimed materials, we can establish sustainable networks saving materials from landfill, reducing the need for new materials and collaborating to create long lasting designs.
We strongly believe that a change in the practice of how we manage waste in all industries is long overdue. Within the industries related to construction, a transition from demolition to deconstruction and reuse has only just begun, with Northern Europe leading the way.
“Liberation from landfill”, the first project on our journey, is a unique situation. Throughout 4 decades of business Alvaro De Torre saved and stored all of the leftover materials which would usually be disregarded and disposed of on a monthly basis. A pioneer of reuse before his time?
We believe this is the perfect opportunity to raise the profile of reuse among professionals and the public highlighting the fundamental issue of waste management in industry. We can change how we perceive leftover material by proving the sustainability of reuse in architecture and design.
History
In 1960 Lazaro Alvaro de Torre started his journey with stone at the age of 20 in the quarries of Empordà, Girona. He went on to start his own stone masons providing stone for over 40 years of business to projects throughout Catalunya, working closely with architect Lanfranco Bombelli in Cadaques and Barcelona. Among his most important collaborations are the Immaculate Church in Figueres, the Dalí Museum, his house in Port Lligat and the fountain of the Mexicans in St Joan les Abadesses.
Cadaqués, Spain. Dalí, Alvaro and entourage...
After Alvaro's death, the stoneyard closed and has remained unused for 5 years. The current owners, Alvaro’s children, tried to find a solution to the vast amounts of stone saved and stored by their father. With no viable route identified, the land was set to be cleared and materials destroyed on 1 of March 2022.
A huge amount of energy, effort and emissions have already been invested to get these materials from beneath the earth’s surface to where they stand now.
Fortunately, Alessandra had previously used offcuts in a project in Colera in 2021, which led to Leleni Studio taking on an initial 6 month lease to delay demolition and start the process of reintroducing the materials into industry.
The vast amounts of marble, granite, travertine and fossil limestone have already been extracted, cut, finished, transported, re-sized and stored on their journey from the quarries to the stoneyard through Spain and Europe. Over the last decade the construction sector has already experienced the instability of relying on a global network for new building materials.
A large palette of materials ( marbles, granite, travertine...) available for your projects
The purpose of this crowdfunding campaign is not only to prevent demolition and save as much material as possible, but also to develop a platform for the future. A network providing materials, that have historically been viewed as waste, into industry to reduce consumption and emissions will become Alvaro's legacy.
Rewards
These types of stone have taken millions of years to form before starting their journey above ground. Due to their durability, if looked after properly they can last many lifetimes and are intended to be passed down through generations.
The following Leleni Studio original designs, made from our stock of reclaimed stone, including tableware, lighting and furniture are part of the reward system to support our campaign.
Allocations of materials for projects large or small are also available. Your pledge will go towards the materials of your choice.
- HomeStone - Tableware
Sink cutouts can be used throughout the home, creating a decorative, easy clean surface that looks fantastic in contrast on a wooden top. Available in Small, Medium and Large.
- BedRock - Wall lighting
Our reclaimed stone lighting design range harnesses the hidden quality of Rosa Aurora, translucence. Emitting ambient light and warmth when backlit, it creates a functional and characterful piece of art.
Perfect as a bedside light or in a living space to create a relaxing environment. 3 formats are available: square, portrait and triptych.
- HomeStone - Modular side table
We are in the process of developing a range of side tables made from sink cutouts and cornerstone pieces. The modular design will provide adjustable heights and ease of installation, made to your specification.
Your project, our collaboration...
You may have a project in mind that would be perfect for an allocation of the materials available. A bathroom floor in white marble, a kitchen countertop and splash-back to match. Combining our experience, your vision and the materials of your choice, we can create an end result with patina, character and a story.
We have established the means for transport and logistics of the materials throughout Spain, Europe and the UK. With our combined experience of reusing materials in architecture and design creating a sustainable element to your projects starts with your pledge.
Materials ready for reuse
From an extensive survey of the materials stored at the stoneyard, we have identified 4 key types of stone: Marble, Granite, Fossil Limestone and Travertine. Over 2000 m² / 500tonnes in total.
Alongside the offcuts stacked on pallets there is an extensive range of stone slabs with the potential for bespoke designs.
- Rosa Aurora
A Portuguese marble. The many variations in colour, texture and character make this marble an interesting and versatile material for reuse in design and architecture.
- Sink cutouts
Over 4 decades producing kitchen and bathroom stone tops, Alvaro saved over 1000 sink cutouts. These oval pieces in a range of materials and colours create playful, organic flooring and decorative and functional tableware and furniture.
- Carrara
A white marble from the same Tuscan quarries in operation during the Roman era. Used throughout history by architects and artists alike, with 500 m² in stock applicable to a wide range of uses.
- Pedra de Girona
Fossil Limestone, historically used throughout Catalunya. When polished, the details of 40 million year old nummulite fossils come to life.
- Granite
An igneous rock formed from magma 300 million years ago. More than 800 m² in a variety of colours, polished with square cut edges, perfect for flooring and paneling. Using a mix creates a textile-like finish.
- Slabs - mixed materials
Throughout the stone yard larger pieces, long lengths and slabs are stored in stillages. Ideal for shelves, splash-backs and bespoke designs.
About Us
Leleni Studio is a collaboration between Alessandra Monarcha and Charlie Paddick started at the beginning of 2022 in Barcelona, dedicated to reuse of building materials in architecture and design.
Changing the practice of how we manage leftover materials in all industries from waste to reuse is an important step towards a sustainable future. Our ambition is to be influential in establishing the networks needed to implement fundamental change in our current outdated system.
Alessandra Monarcha - Italian/Brazilian architect, studied at the IUAV in Venice and graduated from ENSA in Versailles. 2014 to 2022 she worked across France, Italy, Spain and Brazil and developed a holistic understanding in the challenges of international urban and architectural projects. After a year in residence at the French Academy in Madrid, Casa Velazquez, an interest in Spanish vernacular architecture led to an opportunity to promote the reuse of building materials within architecture in Southern Europe.
Charlie Paddick - after studying Industrial Design, an appreciation for quality materials and craftsmanship transformed into a passion to save disregarded objects and materials from destruction. After 8 years with with London’s leading architectural salvage and design practice Retrouvius, he moved to Barcelona with the ambition to promote reuse in design, architecture and construction across Southern Europe.
This project successfully funded on 13th November 2022