Fundermax and TU Vienna: New life for industrial waste materials

The collaboration between Fundermax and TU Wien has been ongoing since 2022 and was continued in the winter semester of 2024 with the ‘Pre-Consumer Waste’ project. Under the guidance of Professors Duks Koschitz and Michael Wildmann, students were looking for creative ways to use residual materials such as press plates, scrap goods or unsold products from Fundermax in architectural projects.

During the 2024/25 winter semester, four groups of students from the Institute of Building Construction 2 at TU Wien developed initial concepts, models and prototypes for their architecture and design projects. These ideas were further refined in the following summer semester: CAD plans were drawn up, details were finalised and preparations for implementation with Compact Elements were made. With Compact Elements, Fundermax offers a service for the precise processing of compact panels. The processing service includes both precise cutting to size and CNC-controlled processing, such as drilling and milling. Thanks to modern machinery, individual requirements can be implemented efficiently and reliably. The result is solutions that are both functional and attractive.

Between 30 May and 23 June 2025, the students worked intensively with their professors on site at the Fundermax location in Wiener Neudorf to bring their designs to life. The crowning finale was the presentation on 23 June 2025, to which architects and experts in the circular economy were invited. They evaluated the projects and provided valuable feedback on the practical implementation and further development. The results impressively demonstrate how creatively and versatilely pre-consumer waste can be used.

The following projects have been implemented:

• Trans4rm: A modular piece of furniture that can be used flexibly as a seat or table.
   
• GestaltBar: A three-part bar that is not only functional but also mobile – and will be used in a Viennese restaurant in the future.
   
• UmGedacht: Two canopies designed as innovative surface structures made of 3 mm thick pressed panels and a textile membrane.
   
• Trisamara: A sculptural object that serves as a shaded seat in public spaces while also making an architectural statement.

For Fundermax, the collaboration offers a valuable opportunity to inspire students in the long term and give them a practical understanding of how to work with Fundermax materials. In addition to the material itself, the teams were also supported by experienced Fundermax contacts who shared their expertise on HPL panels and CNC machine processing. It is always fulfilling to accompany young talents on their journey and to experience the creative potential of the next generation of architects.