UPCYCLE

LOT/EK is renowned for its groundbreaking work with standard ISO Shipping Containers. As the original shipping container architects, we have over 25 years of experience transforming this durable, versatile, and sustainable structure into innovative architectural solutions. Our approach is rooted in upcycling—the process of reimagining ordinary objects to create extraordinary architecture. We extend the lifecycle of manufactured objects, push the boundaries of existing systems, and envision new futures for legacy platforms. Shipping containers may be our signature material, but we’ve also created architecture from cement mixers, airplane fuselages, and more. Even our drawing featured in MoMA was made from a humble cardboard box.

At LOT/EK, we are captivated by the everyday, the seemingly ordinary, and the distinctive qualities of a material culture that isn’t necessarily designed to be exceptional. This fascination mirrors the ready-made and pop reclamation of the deceptively banal—from Duchamp to Warhol. This is the meaning of the "low" in LOT/EK: the manmade landscape, from domestic to geographic, and the humility, banality, and quality of the generic components that shape this landscape. We seek the latent potential of these objects, either by enhancing their inherent qualities or by radically counter-programming their use. We find a tough beauty in precise, bold transformations—recalling pioneering incisions and displacements by artists like Gordon Matta-Clark, who worked with steel, air, and the sharpest imaginary knife.

UPCYCLE, our latest book, showcases how we transform ordinary objects into daring, modern buildings. Click on the image to the left to purchase your copy of UPCYCLE and discover how we turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.