Build With What You’ve Got: How Five Mile Radius is Shaping Sustainable Design
Five Mile Radius is redefining sustainable design with a simple yet powerful idea: build with what you’ve got. Instead of relying on imported or new materials, the Australian architecture studio focuses on repurposing local resources that are often overlooked or discarded, creating beautiful, functional designs while reducing waste.
Waste Terrazo by Five Mile Radius | Photography by Callie Marshall
Waste Terazzo process | Photography by Dan Mulheran
A Philosophy Rooted in Local Resources
Build with what you’ve got reflects the studio's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of construction, an industry responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions. Their approach is pragmatic—sourcing materials that are abundant and underused in local communities. It’s not just about sustainability; it’s about celebrating materials that reflect the identity of a place.
A prime example is their Telegraph Stools, crafted from the timber of old telegraph poles. Each year, 200,000 of these poles are replaced across Australia, with the majority of them ending up in landfill. Five Mile Radius recognised the potential in this discarded timber and turned it into something functional and beautiful.
From Discarded Telegraph Poles to Design
Telegraph poles are often replaced when a small section becomes damaged or waterlogged, leaving the rest of the timber in perfect condition. Yet, more than 80% of these poles go to waste. Five Mile Radius transforms this material into their signature Telegraph Stools, giving new life to what would otherwise be discarded.
The process starts by cutting the timber to size, followed by a traditional charring technique to preserve and enhance the wood’s surface. Finished with natural wax, the stools are not only durable but unique in their aesthetic. Designed as a pair from the same log, they stack seamlessly, ensuring no timber is wasted in production.
Local Collaboration for Global Impact
At the heart of Five Mile Radius’s work is the belief that sustainable design is about more than materials—it’s about fostering connections between communities and their environments. By collaborating with local producers, the studio reinforces its commitment to using what’s available, creating projects that are not only eco-friendly but rooted in local identity.
Their build with what you’ve got approach is a direct response to the challenges facing the construction industry today—showing that thoughtful material selection can reduce waste and environmental impact without sacrificing design quality.
A Blueprint for Sustainable Design
Five Mile Radius demonstrates that sustainable design begins with using what's around us. Their work with telegraph poles is just one example of how repurposing local materials can lead to innovative, zero-waste solutions. The build with what you’ve got philosophy is not just about reducing waste—it’s about rethinking how we approach materials and construction, creating designs that are in harmony with their environment.
