VO SHED

The VO Shed is designed as part of a collection and distribution network for a Seattle Vegetable Oil (VO) biofuel collective. VO is a waste product, derived from conventional cooking oil—particularly used for french-fry cooking—that can be used as a low emission combustion substitute for fossil fuels. The VO Shed houses a series of filters to transform used vegetable oil into fuel and serves as a storage depot for fuel distribution. Designed to be located behind a popular Seattle nightspot, the shed provides a glowing hub for local restaurants to participate in and showcase this ecological upcycling process.

Further making a case for the upcycling of waste materials, the façade of the shed is designed to use recycled plastic. The material is sourced as the byproduct of a plastic recycling process that created High Density Polyethylene from used milk cartons – it is the waste product of a waste product.

Using a CNC cutting process, the plastic wraps the exterior of the shed in a series of undulating fins, creating a translucent exterior wrapper that glows at night. In exploring new materials and embracing new, local economic networks, the VO Shed takes a holistic approach to ecological design and community building.