FLEARCHITECTURE Repurposing the Given is now open to the public at Mercat dels Encants from April 17 to July 11, 2026, as part of the official programme of Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 and within the framework of the UIA World Congress of Architects.
Positioned at the intersection of design, reuse and circular building materials, the exhibition explores how architecture can move beyond extraction-based models by rethinking the value of existing resources.
Initiated by b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos, it brings together architecture studios, institutions, universities and industry leaders to address a shared question: how can we build by reinterpreting what already exists?
Repurposing the Given: from reuse to architectural strategy
Under the concept “Repurposing the Given”, the exhibition moves beyond conventional sustainability narratives. It positions reuse, recovery and continuity as core design strategies.
Rather than building from scratch, the projects presented explore:
- the reuse of existing materials and structures
- the integration of traditional techniques and craftsmanship
- the preservation and reinterpretation of architectural memory
A key example is Casa Condeminas, a protected modernist building restored with a strong focus on material recovery and artisanal knowledge, reinforcing the idea that circularity also means preserving and upgrading what is already built.
A tactile exhibition: circular building materials, systems and real applications
FLEARCHITECTURE is not a conceptual showcase. It presents real materials and construction solutions applied in architectural projects across Barcelona.
This applied approach reinforces a shift in the sector:
from sustainability as intent → to circularity as execution
Honext: circular by design materials for interior architecture
At Honext, we contribute to this discourse through high-performance circular building materials developed from recycled cellulose fibres.
Our boards are:
- 100% recycled and recyclable
- non-toxic and safe for healthy interiors
- engineered for multiple recycling cycles, enabling continuous material valorisation
This approach transforms waste into a high-quality circular panel designed for interior architecture applications such as:
- interior wall cladding
- suspended ceilings
- acoustic solutions
- exhibition and stand design
By enabling circular building materials to remain in use across multiple life cycles, Honext supports a model of continuous material recovery and reuse, aligned with the principles of circular construction and long-term resource efficiency.
A timely convergence of two key moments for the architecture world. From Milan to Barcelona: visibility and architectural legitimacy
While global platforms such as the Milan Design Week 2026 (April 20–26)—with the Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone—position design as a laboratory of innovation, immersive environments and sustainable experimentation, FLEARCHITECTURE emerges as a complementary laboratory rooted in architecture and the built environment.
Rather than focusing on newness, it promotes urban regeneration over demolition and new construction, questioning traditional growth models by exploring how existing buildings, materials and systems can be reinterpreted. Through exhibitions, workshops and experimental interventions, it brings together academia, architectural practice and the material industry to advance practical approaches to reuse, climate adaptation and heritage preservation.
In this context, materials are positioned not only as innovative solutions, but as technically credible components for real architectural applications—particularly in rehabilitation and adaptive reuse—contributing to a more resilient and responsible urban future.
Building continuity and circular building materials: the next step in circular architecture
Beyond circularity, the exhibition introduces a critical concept: constructive continuity.
This perspective aligns with Honext’s material logic:
not only materials that re-enter the cycle,
but materials that integrate respectfully within existing built environments.