Cooperation in Upcycling Architecture and Coauthorship in Cultural Change

Abstract

This paper discusses the upcycling architecture from the perspective of different authors’ cooperation across time. Three case studies – Zeitz MOCAA in South Africa, Strawberry Facility in Japan, and KEVN in the Netherlands – reveal how architecture has evolved through collaboration between past builders, materials, and contemporary architects. Drawing on Hegelian dialectics and vernacular theory, it argues that upcycling architecture reflects the continuity and transformation of culture. Material reuse, collage, and emotional expression combine to produce multiple layers of meaning. Contemporary architects act as mediators, integrating historical traces and environmental values into new spatial forms that reflect sustainability and identity.

Keywords: upcycling architecture, coauthorship, cultural change